The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recently experienced the loss of two faculty members. Stephen B. Milam, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor and chair, and the Hugh B. Tilson Endowed Chair in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, passed away July 18 at the age of 54. Eleanor Anne Young, Ph.D., former professor of medicine in gastroenterology and human nutrition, passed from this life July 13. Colleagues say that they both left an indelible mark for future generations at the Health Science Center.

Stephen B. Milam, D.D.S., Ph.D., was former chair of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
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Dr. Milam
“Vision” and “leadership” are just two of the many qualities colleagues said that Dr. Milam possessed. As an internationally recognized expert on temporomandibular jaw disease and pain, Dr. Milam accepted an offer in 1993 to work at the Health Science Center to establish the research division in oral and maxillofacial surgery. In 1999, he was named chair of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Milam was commended recently for his exceptional contributions to the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery with Senate Resolution No. 423, sponsored by Texas State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, during the 80th Legislature. Of late, he served as the research section editor of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and was a member of the board of directors for the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

“This is a big loss for the Health Science Center family,” President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., said. “We were fortunate to benefit from Dr. Milam’s personality and expertise during his years here.”

Dr. Milam earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas and a certificate in anesthesiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Subsequently he held teaching positions in pharmacology and anesthesiology at the Baylor College of Dentistry and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

In 1986, Dr. Milam had the option of earning a doctorate in pharmacology, but says he decided to go into an area he “knew the least about,” cellular biology. He received his Ph.D. in that field from the Health Science Center in 1990 while completing his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He spent two years on the faculty at the Baylor College of Dentistry, and then returned in 1993.

Eleanor Anne Young, Ph.D., developed a four-year nutrition program that became the model for medical schools across the United States.

Dr. Young
Caring and compassion came naturally to Dr. Young, who passed away at age 82. As a professor of nutrition for more than 30 years, Dr. Young often made her students eat the same food as their future patients in order for them to relate to their experience.

The four-year nutrition curriculum taught in the School of Medicine was developed by Dr. Young and has been cited as a model for medical schools across the United States. She also led the first studies which showed hereditary lactase deficiency in Hispanics. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Young saw patients who had special dietary needs because of hypertension, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

“She was a very persistent, tenacious, productive and friendly person,” said Elliot Weser, M.D., emeritus professor, department of medicine, division of gastroenterology and nutrition. “She was a national leader in clinical nutrition, recognized for her role in medical school nutrition.”

Dr. Young was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for her dedication to nutrition and education. She also received the 1990 Outstanding Contribution to Nutrition Award by the Texas State Nutrition Council, was elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Nutrition in 1991, and in 1992 was selected by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition for the American Dairy Council Award for Excellence in Medical/Dental Nutrition.

She was also a Catholic religious sister who belonged to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

"If you can motivate people to improve their own lives, it’s a wonderful thing to do,” Dr. Young said.

Even after death, Dr. Young continues to serve the community. She donated her body to science.