Gary Miller, Ph.D. (BSME ‘70/Ph.D. ’77)
Gary J. Miller, Ph.D., (BSME ’70/Ph.D. ’77) was honored at the fall 2021 commencement ceremony with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Distinguished alumnus awards are presented to an alumna or an alumnus of the university who has excelled in their chosen field and have performed outstanding service for the university.
Dr. Miller is co-founder and Executive Vice President for Research and Development (Emeritus) of Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, Florida. Exactech was incorporated in 1985 and develops, manufactures and distributes orthopaedic implants.
He and his wife, Suzy Liss Miller, also a Gator grad (BAED ’70), have been married 51 years. They have three children and six grandchildren. A native Floridian from Jacksonville, Dr. Miller is a proud double Gator. He received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1970 from the University of Florida, a master’s in mechanical engineering (biomechanics) from MIT in 1972 and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering (biomechanics and biomaterials emphasis) in 1977 from the University of Florida.
Post-graduation, he joined the faculty of the UF Department of Orthopaedics serving as a post-doctoral fellow, assistant and associate professor; and served as Director of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics until leaving in 1997 to concentrate fully on his duties at Exactech. Over the years he has served as an adjunct associate professor in various departments of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the UF College of Veterinary Medicine (Orthopaedics) and now holds a courtesy professorship in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).
He is past chairman of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board (2019-2020), remains active on the DAB and enjoys lecturing, mentoring and participating on the industrial advisory boards of UF MAE and BME.
Dr. Miller is a member of many professional organizations including being a founding member of the Society for Biomaterials, membership in the Orthopaedic Research Society, American Society for Testing and Materials, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and served as a consultant to various orthopaedic companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Miller holds more than 20 patents in the U.S. and abroad and published more than 65 articles and 100 abstracts in the areas of biomechanics and biomaterials. He has presented this work and lectured on biomechanics, implant and instrument design and biomaterials throughout the world.