2024 Award Winner Chris Miller: Lifelong Commitment to Learning Paves the Way to the CIIP

A family move to Sonoma County, California in 1989 planted the seeds for Chris Miller's journey to becoming a CIIP. When his mother was hired as a director at the newly opened Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Rosa, Chris spent many hours there, becoming what he calls a “Kaiser brat.”

“I grew up there,” says Chris. “I just knew that once I found my calling, I would work in health care no matter what career path I pursued.”

Finding His Calling

From the beginning of his Kaiser career as an IT Help Desk intern to his current role as a CIIP-certified PACS Administrator II, Chris has shown determination, diligence, and drive, coupled with care and compassion, to deliver the highest level of excellence across all his endeavors.

His unique combination of information technology skills paired with his knowledge of clinical healthcare set Chris up for success as a PACS administrator. He communicates effectively with highly technical network colleagues and understands the diagnostic process of the radiologist.

Colleagues and peers describe him as an innovative pioneer with phenomenal communication skills, highly skilled and knowledgeable, and dedicated to increasing value and always providing better service.

Hari Lakshmanan, M.D., who nominated Chris for the ABII Excellence in Imaging Informatics award, says “Chris exemplifies the qualities of a top imaging informatics professional through his innovative spirit, commitment to growth and quality improvement, and passionate advocacy for the profession.”

Continuous Growth and Learning

Lakshmanan describes Chris as a “relentless pursuer of personal and professional growth.” Throughout his career journey, Chris has pursued advanced certifications in information technology and imaging informatics and regularly participates in conferences to keep current on the latest technological advancements. Adds Lakshmanan, “Chris' commitment to continuous learning has not only enhanced his skills but has also inspired colleagues to strive for excellence in their own professional development.”

Earning the CIIP Credential

Chris applied the same “relentless pursuit” to earning his CIIP credential. When he was ready for his next professional move, he knew that Kaiser required the CIIP credential for advanced positions in his field.

He was up for the challenge.

With support from his local leadership and regional peers, Chris studied hard for the CIIP exam and passed with flying colors.

“Earning the credential and being associated with the CIIP certification is such a great validation of everything I've learned over the past 10 years,” says Chris. “For those in my profession, the CIIP is the gold standard of PACS prowess.”

Opening Doors

Once Chris earned his CIIP credential, new opportunities immediately surfaced. He was promoted to his current lead role vastly expanding his role and responsibilities to system architect, workflow engineer, and business analyst.

Today Chris is part of a regional leadership team where he provides direction for rolling out new technologies and helps navigate and plan for the future of radiology.

He's co-leading the regional roll-out of a major Kaiser nationwide initiative to transition from their current PACS system to a new cloud-based system. Serving as a SME for the Northern California market, Chris documents their current state and determines what's needed for the next generation PACS.

Lindsey Swift, Kaiser Regional Imaging Director and colleague, describes Chris as “super human” in the stellar work he does for the region. “We need more Chris's,” she adds. “He's smart and wonderful to work with. I'm incredibly grateful for his contributions.”