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Rita Miller (née Kaitz)
B.S. '46, M.A. '72
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Rita Miller (née Kaitz) B.S. '46, M.A. '72
Nurse, Public Health Administrator
Professional Career:
Rita Kaitz Miller was a member of the first graduating class from Adelphi’s School of Nursing. Soon after graduation, she received a telegram offering her a position as the teaching supervisor in tuberculosis in the nursing education section of the University of Oregon Medical School. Mrs. Miller saw this as a wonderful opportunity not only for work, but to experience the Pacific Northwest, so she accepted.
After working in Oregon for two years, Mrs. Miller returned east and briefly worked on the chest service at Bellevue Hospital. Following this position, she worked as a general duty nurse at Mount Vernon, in New York, where she met her future husband. They married in April 1948, and Mrs. Miller moved to Jamaica, New York, where her husband, a physician, had opened his office in general practice upon his return from World War II.
Eight years and three children later, they moved their home to Searingtown, Long Island. Although it sounds surprising today, during those years they kept chickens at their house and bought milk from people who had cows on Searingtown Road. Mrs. Miller co-founded the North Shore Science Museum, a children’s science activity center. She was the first president of this facility, which is now part of the Nassau County Museum System.
As her children went off to college, so did Mrs. Miller. In 1972, she received her master's in health education at Adelphi University. That year George H.W. Bush, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, delivered their commencement address. From Adelphi, Mrs. Miller went on to work for the Nassau County Department of Health and was part of the team coordinating the first Emergency Medical Services program. After five years in that capacity, she was transferred to Public Health Administration and spent several years as the administrator of the Freeport Health Center, The Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic and the Plainview Health Center.
A chance visit to New Mexico led to a change in Dr. and Mrs. Miller’s lives; they moved to Santa Fe, where they were deliriously happy for many years. They now live in Philadelphia, enjoying theatre, concerts, and the company of their sons.
When and why did you want to become a nurse?
I had graduated from Mt. Vernon High School and attended New York University for two semesters. I read about Adelphi’s Cadet Nursing program and learned that tuition was free, which is always an important factor. It was wartime and the federal government needed nurses desperately. It seemed to be a very worthy program and opportunity.
Do you have favorite memories of your time at Adelphi and your residencies?
Nursing was a good fit for me. I liked the mix of scholastic learning and clinical application. My first memories at Adelphi stem from the nurses’ residence at Nassau Hospital, where the nursing students lived. We were transported by station wagon to the college campus for lectures in anatomy and physiology, and electives.
We enjoyed going to the movie theater in Mineola. We would buy sandwiches at the local deli and pay thirty-five cents admission for balcony seats. When John Wayne appeared on the screen, we died and went to heaven.
We were very fortunate to have Mildred Montag as the administrator of the Cadet Nurse program. She was a forceful and competent administrator.
What are some changes you have seen in nursing throughout the years?
Although there was aspirin in 1943, leeches were sometimes used therapeutically and hot packs were used for polio patients. There have been so many gains made in medical knowledge. Today there is access to a broad spectrum of pharmaceuticals. The innovative therapies and surgical techniques that are available today have changed the nature of nursing practice.
What advice would you give to today’s nursing students?
Study constantly, continue your education beyond nursing, and establish a solid track record.
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Contact
For additional information, please contact:
School of Nursing
Alumnae Hall, Room 220
Adelphi University
1 South Avenue
P.O. Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
p - 516.877.4510
f - 516.877.4558
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