Exactech Co-Founder Gary Miller, PhD, Announces Retirement, Transition to Emeritus Status

Biomedical Engineer and Innovation Leader Served Joint Replacement Company for 36 Years

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2021) – Exactech, a developer and producer of innovative implants, instrumentation and smart technologies for joint replacement surgery, announced that Co-founder and Executive Vice President of R&D Gary Miller, PhD, is retiring from his current role. He will transition to Emeritus status and serve the company in an advisory role beginning today.

Dr. Miller co-founded Exactech in 1985 with orthopaedic surgeon Bill Petty, MD, and his wife Betty Petty. Since the company’s inception, he has served as its Innovation leader.

Miller received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Florida (UF), a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanics) from UF. Gary is a UF Distinguished Alumnus and served as associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of Research and Biomechanics at the UF College of Medicine from July 1986 until August 1996. He also served as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Aerospace, Mechanics and Engineering Sciences at UF from 1995 until 2010. Miller is a member of many professional societies including the Orthopaedic Research Society, the Society for Biomaterials, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He currently serves on the Board of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention and UF’s Wertheim College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board, the external advisory boards for UF’s J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he is appointed as courtesy professor.

In an announcement to Exactech employees, Dr. Miller reflected, “I’ve been thinking and planning around this retirement idea for several years, and Suzy and I believe now is an excellent opportunity to use our time for travel, family, and other new adventures.  This Exactech journey has been so special. Who would have ever thought that being on an airplane with Dr. Petty more than three-and-a-half decades ago would lead to this incredible idea that is now Exactech. These 36+ years have gone by in a flash because I’ve been able to do what I really like and work with a truly remarkable and wonderful group of people, improving the lives of patients worldwide.”

According to Exactech CEO Darin Johnson, “Dr. Miller has been a brilliant, gregarious and inspiring mentor to many of us at Exactech. He instilled and embodied our long-standing company value of Innovation, which has driven our culture since he partnered in our founding nearly 36 years ago. Employees from every corner of the company, as well as our surgeon partners and sales teams around the world, can bear witness to his engaging and effective Socratic approach to teaching. His patience, expertise and camaraderie have left an indelible mark on this company, and we are grateful he will continue to be around in his Emeritus role.  He may be retiring, but Dr Miller’s legacy will always shine brightly here.”

About Exactech

Exactech is a global medical device company that develops and markets orthopaedic implant devices, related surgical instruments and the Active Intelligence® platform of smart technologies to hospitals and physicians. Headquartered in Gainesville, Fla., Exactech markets its products in the United States, in addition to more than 30 markets in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Visit staging.exac.com for more information and connect with us on LinkedIn, VuMedi, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.