Dr. Thomas (T.) Grier Miller was born in Statesville, North Carolina, and in 1906 was awarded his undergraduate degree by the University of North Carolina. He then pursued medicine and in 1911 graduated from the University of Pennsylvania medical school, where he served on the faculty for the remainder of his career, interrupted by his serving in World War I as an army captain. In 1921, he became a Fellow of the College of Physicians. In 1926, he established the Gastroenterology section at the University of Pennsylvania and was its first Chief, where he fostered the careers of many who made notable contributions to the study of digestive diseases. He served as Chief until his retirement in 1952 and became Professor of Clinical Medicine in 1934. He had a series of papers with William Osler Abbott and W. G. Carr on intubation and studies of the small intestine which became classics and were made possible by the invention of the double lumen tube.
Dr. T. Grier Miller was a member and President of many professional organizations, including the American Clinical and Climatological Association, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He received the Julius Friedenwald Medal (the AGA's highest honor) and the Alfred Stengel Memorial Award.