Brian E. Miller to Speak at PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony
Miller, a leader in surgical robotics and digital health and McCormick alum, will speak at the Dec. 12 event
Brian E. Miller (MS ’98, PhD ’00), CEO of Sovato Health, will address Northwestern Engineering’s Class of 2026 at the PhD Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, December 12, at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
Miller holds more than 25 years of experience in surgical robotics, digital health, and technology innovation, with particular expertise in transforming emerging technologies into solutions that deliver meaningful clinical and operational value.
At Sovato Health, he leads the organization’s mission to advance and scale remote surgical and procedural capabilities worldwide. Previously, Miller served as executive vice president, chief digital officer, and head of digital and AI strategy at Intuitive Surgical, where he led efforts to use digital technologies to improve clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and care delivery.
Throughout his career, Miller has helped advance robotic surgical technologies and surgeon training, with patented innovations in tele-robotic motion control, 3D telestration, adaptive video streaming, video content search, and virtual reality simulation for surgical education.
“Brian’s career reflects the kind of impact our graduates can have when they combine deep technical expertise with a willingness to explore where emerging technologies can make a real difference,” said Christopher A. Schuh, dean of Northwestern Engineering. “We look forward to welcoming him back to Northwestern and hearing the perspective he will share with our graduating master’s and PhD students.”
In 1996, Miller earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering from Iowa State University. He went on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering, where he studied haptic interfaces and robotics.