Beaver Dam Doctor Singled Out By Governor On Rural Health Day

11/16/17 – Governor Scott Walker has declared Thursday as Rural Health Day saying the recognition is for the dedication and innovation of health professionals who are serving rural communities. As part of the proclamation, the governor’s office has singled out four University of Wisconsin – Madison alumni and faculty serving as small-town health professionals. Their stories are featured in Thank You 72, a reference to Wisconsin’s 72 counties, and Dodge County is one of the four counties being highlighted today. Dr. Joel Miller spent his entire career serving in Beaver Dam. Miller was raised in Iowa and studied there until he came to UW–Madison to do his residency in 1992, as UW Health was expanding its clinics into Dodge County. He plans to enjoy the rest of his career where he began. Miller says his dream was to be “an old-fashioned internist,” and he found that option in Beaver Dam. He also volunteers to treat poor, uninsured and underinsured patients through the nonprofit Church Health Services. Thanks to his work and the work of fellow volunteers, the clinic has expanded to include nine doctors and nurses, and it now offers dental, mental-health, and alcohol- and drug-abuse services. In 2015, UW Health honored Miller with its Community Service Award for his work with Church Health Services. The stories of all four rural health care professionals can be found online at allwaysforward.org/wi