The Miller School Remembers Dr. Douglas Broadfield

Dr. Douglas Broadfield

Douglas Broadfield, Ph.D., an associate professor of cell biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, passed away on Oct. 31.

A celebration of Dr. Broadfield’s life will be held December 10 at 5 p.m. at the Mailman Center’s 8th floor auditorium. Those who are unable to attend in person may join via Zoom at meeting ID 918 0434 9168 (passcode 448505).

Please RSVP by Monday, December 9.

Dr. Broadfield joined the Miller School’s Department of Cell Biology in 2015, the year he was named principal investigator for the state of Florida’s Anatomical Board, and served as a senior faculty member of anatomy and director of the willed body program at the Miller School.

Miller School colleagues remember him as an outstanding scientist and devoted educator who worked hard to help his students achieve their goals.

“Doug loved teaching the students, especially in the lab where he could directly interact with them,” said Thomas Champney, Ph.D., a professor of cell biology at the Miller School. “He cared deeply for the students and always wanted them to succeed.”

“Doug was an ultimate mentor,” said David Hoodiman, director of the Miller School’s willed body program. “He always had students in his office helping them out with their studies.”

Miller School students used Post-It notes to pay tribute to their mentor.

His commitment resulted in Miller School first-year medical students honoring Dr. Broadfield with the George Paff Teaching Award in 2019 and 2020. The award is given to faculty members who go above and beyond their responsibilities to deliver the highest-quality education, and it wasn’t the first time his teaching talents merited formal recognition. As a student at the City University New York Graduate Center, where he earned his Ph.D. in anatomy, Dr. Broadfield received a C.U.N.Y. Graduate Teaching Fellowship awarded to the top student teachers in the C.U.N.Y. system.

Dr. Broadfield was also an accomplished scholar, with a focus on comparative anatomy and paleoneurology (the study of brain evolution in human ancestors). His research was published in high-impact journals including The Anatomical Record, Science and Global Surgical Education. He co-edited the book, “The Human Brain Evolving,” which was recognized as a top professional work upon its publication.

Dr. Broadfield came to Miami after nearly 14 years in the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Biomedical Science, of which he was a founding member, at Florida Atlantic University. He also held a faculty appointment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai prior to his time at FAU.

“Doug was a fantastic colleague and friend,” Dr. Champney said. “We shared many good times together. He will be deeply missed.”

“An amazing, dedicated, compassionate, stoic human is how Doug will forever be imprinted in my memory,” said Evelyn Vargas, the program manager for body donor services at the Miller School. “Doug’s absence will be profoundly felt.”

A celebration of Dr. Broadfield’s life will take place Saturday, November 9, at 2 p.m. at Journey Church, 6201 South Military Trail, Lake Worth, Fla.