David Miller has countless memories of growing up on his family’s farm near Killdeer, North Dakota — but one stands out from all the others: The winters.
“I went to country school and in the winter, there was so much snow. We used to use a horse and sleigh to get to school,” David said.
When it came time to choose his career path, Miller followed in the footsteps of his older sister and enrolled at what was then the Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing. There, he learned the tenants of nursing — principles and guidelines he’s carried with him throughout his career.
“To be a nurse, you must be a good person. You must enjoy helping others. You must be able to put your personal feelings aside and do what needs to be done,” he said. “You must be honest and approachable, and you must have integrity.”
After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army where he worked as an emergency room nurse at a military hospital in Vietnam.
The experience was challenging, emotional and impactful.
“Caring for wounded soldiers — it changes you, that’s for sure,” David said.
While in the Army, David was involved in a plane crash where he sustained a serious injury to his back. He was hospitalized for six weeks and spent two months in a body cast.
Being on the receiving end of care allowed him to look at nursing through a new lens — that of a patient.
“It definitely validated my experience as a nurse.”
After recovering from his injury and completing his military service, David moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the advice of a friend and fellow solider who was from the area.
“I knew I wanted to go back to school, but I wasn’t sure for what at that point, so I went to Pittsburgh. I went to night school at the University of Pittsburgh and during the day I worked as an operating room nurse at a nonprofit hospital.”
From there, he went to anesthesia school in Pittsburgh and then moved to Washington, D.C., where he spent the next 35 years working as a nurse anesthetist.
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I worked in small hospitals over my career. It was always a challenge and made me think every day. Every patient is different. I liked the independence I could have as a nurse anesthetist. I enjoyed the work and the challenge.
Throughout his career, David never forgot where he came from — or the impact of his education.
“I believe in education. My experience at the Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing was instrumental in my whole life. I thought it was appropriate to give back and I’m fortunate enough to be able to do that for the education of others,” he said.
Miller’s Legacy
He made his first gift in support of nursing education in 1989 and has given every year since then. Over nearly four decades, he’s given more than $2.1 million through the Sanford Health Foundation to create opportunities within the field of nursing in the community where his own career in health care was born. His giving has impacted hundreds of lives — including 67 nursing students who have received scholarships funded by David’s generosity.
His most recent gift, a $1 million philanthropic investment in 2024, will support scholarships for students, CNAs, LPNs and existing registered nurses who wish to advance their education. It will also support certifications and other continuing education opportunities for nurses and so much more.
Sara Haugen serves as the vice president for the Sanford Health Foundation in Bismarck. She called David’s philanthropy a game-changer for the region.
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David’s generosity is not only impacting the field of nursing today. His legacy gift through the Sanford Health Foundation will advance nursing education for generations to come. This is the essence of philanthropy — people helping people for the greater good. We simply couldn’t be more grateful to David for his belief in our mission and his generosity.”
Vice president for the Sanford Health Foundation in Bismarck
Through his planned gift, David is a member of the Foundation’s Legacy Society, a growing community of donors who are investing in the future of health care.
“Over time, Bismarck has grown and evolved, and I think Sanford really stands at the forefront of care. We know so much more now than we did 50-60 years ago, and we’re constantly learning more, so health care will continue to evolve. I’ve lived all my life in larger, metropolitan cities where state-of-the-art health care systems are the norm. Sanford is doing that work in the Midwest now. That’s incredible,” David said.
Give for Good
If you’re inspired by this story and want to join our work to further transform health care for our region, we invite you to Give for Good today. 100% of your gift through the Sanford Health Foundation will stay local and will help advance care and services for patients and families throughout central and western North Dakota.