Meet the 2026 Veterinary Heroes: Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD

Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD, has never taken the straightforward path in her career, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Raised in the halls of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where her father was a veterinary dermatologist, Miller spent years resisting the specialty she was practically born into. She pursued equine medicine, mixed animal practice, and even surgery before a hand condition forced her to reconsider—and she hasn’t looked back since.

Now, Miller has built a career defined by clinical excellence, genuine client connection, and a passion for education. She regularly travels to teach, with a mission to help fellow veterinarians learn to love dermatology as much as she does. “Winning this award means that what I’m doing is making a difference,” she said. “That my love of dermatology is . . . making an impact on the world.”

Her biggest lesson? Meet clients where they are. “It’s lovely to have gold-standard treatment, but we have to meet people where they are and with what they can actually do,” she said. For Miller, that means tailoring every treatment plan to what a client can realistically manage, whether that’s daily bathing routines or longer-acting oral options, all while remaining nonjudgmental and keeping the lines of communication open.

Miller is equally passionate about the next generation of veterinary professionals. She urges aspiring dermatologists to embrace people skills as much as medical knowledge and to remain open when life steers them in an unexpected direction. “It doesn’t have to be linear,” she said. “You could be surprised where your career takes you—and it may be nowhere that you anticipated 5, 10, [or] 15 years ago.”

Congratulations to Miller from dvm360! You can check out the rest of our 2026 recipients, and learn more about Miller here.