In Memoriam: Richard 'Dick' Mills, MD, MPH

In Memoriam In Memoriam: Richard "Dick" Mills, MD, MPH FIG. 1. Dick Mills. D ick was born and raised in Evanston, IL (Figs. 1, 2). His father was a professor of debate at Northwestern. Dick attended Yale for his undergraduate and medical degrees and came west for his internship in Portland, followed by his ophthalmology residency at the University of Washington, where he was one of the first graduates of the residency program under the leadership of Carl Kupfer. After a stint in the public health service, Dick completed a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship with Harry "Hank" Van Dyke in Utah and Bill Hoyt at University of California San Francisco. Dick returned to Washington State and practiced neuro-ophthalmology and served on the clinical faculty at the University of Washington before pursuing a second glaucoma fellowship with Stephen Drance in Vancouver, B.C. Dick then joined the full-time University of Washington Ophthalmology faculty, where he rose to the rank of professor. Dick published over 100 articles and was a leading force in glaucoma clinical research, particularly the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study trial. While on the faculty at the University of Washington, he enrolled in the School of Public Health, earning his MPH degree. Dick left Seattle to become chair at the University of Kentucky, returning several years later to enter private practice and serve again as clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington. Orcutt: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2020; 40: e15-e16 Dick served the profession in many ways. He served as a director of the American Board of Ophthalmology from 1998 to 2005, chairing the task force that resulted in adoption of the competencies for residency training. Dick was very active in the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). While serving as the president of the Washington State Ophthalmological Society he helped develop what became Eye Care America, the AAO's program to ensure no one goes without eye care in the United States. Dick later served as president of the AAO in 1995. Following this, he was called back to AAO duty to edit Eye Net, which he did for 14 years. He wrote a total of 148 opinion pieces that were not only informative but witty, combining his love of words with the arts. Dick was also a stalwart member of the ophthalmology community, making the trek to Washington, D.C. annually to visit with lawmakers and lobby for our patients and our profession. Most people who were friends with Dick will remember his great sense of humor. One could always tell his infectious laugh, even at a distance. His humor was evident even when relating his experience with a near death event due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a July 2013 Eye Net editorial entitled "A Personal Medical Saga: Almost a Zombie?" He was a mentor to many, including myself. It was while he was a clinical faculty member in 1978 that I first met him as a new resident and he a new faculty member. His was an infectious personality; his love of neuro-ophthalmology and desire to teach convinced me to become an academic neuroophthalmologist. I was fortunate to have a career with Dick available when I needed help, support, and humorous relief. He died on May 9, 2020, age 76, from COVID-19. Dr. David Parke II, MD, said of Dick: "He believed fervently that every ophthalmologist had a responsibility FIG. 2. The author and Dr. Mills as visiting professors at Dartmouth/Hitchcock medical center in the 1990s. e15 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. In Memoriam to serve others, rather than (as he referred to it) 'hitchhike' on the contributions of others." Dr. Parke went on to say: "Dick was one of the good guys-the best guys. We will miss him." I can't agree more and his passing will leave a hole in all our hearts. e16 James C. Orcutt, MD, PhD Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington [e-mail] Orcutt: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2020; 40: e15-e16 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.