Alan B. Miller was born on August 17, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York City, growing up in a working-class neighborhood that instilled the value of hard work and community. His mother worked for a millinery company, and his father owned a dry cleaner. A gifted athlete, Miller was a New York City high school basketball champion, graduating in 1954 at just 16 years old.

His academic excellence was matched by a commitment to service: he attended the College of William & Mary on an ROTC scholarship and later earned an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His life took a dramatic turn when a severe car accident ended his college basketball career, forcing him to focus entirely on his studies and career, a period of adversity that shaped his famous resilience.

Miller's professional journey began in advertising at Young & Rubicam, where he was instrumental in developing the nationally syndicated television program 'Cooking With Graham Kerr'. However, recognizing the opportunity in the emerging field of managed care, he transitioned into healthcare, founding his first hospital management company, American Medicorp, in 1969. He later orchestrated a notable turnaround of that company, gaining attention in the industry, before losing it in a hostile takeover.

Undeterred, Miller immediately founded Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 1979 with only six employees and zero revenue. Through strategic management and a relentless focus on shareholder returns (achieving an astounding 3,715% total shareholder return from 1995 to 2015), he transformed UHS into an S&P 500 corporation and one of the nation’s largest providers of hospital and healthcare services. He was named a 'Fortune 500' CEO and one of the '100 Most Influential People in Healthcare' for 17 consecutive years, finally stepping down as CEO in 2021 while remaining Executive Chairman.

Alan Miller’s philanthropy is both institutional and personal, deeply prioritizing education, entrepreneurship, and supporting the U.S. military community. His charitable philosophy is rooted in the belief that the American Dream means 'what you contemplate or imagine you can make happen'.

• College of William & Mary (Alma Mater): He is a major benefactor, with the Alan B. Miller Hall (Business School) and the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center named in his honor.
• Military & Veterans Support: His commitment is exemplified by the highly respected Patriot Support Program at UHS, which has earned him high civilian honors. The company even named a hospital in Alaska after 'Chris Kyle' (the American Sniper) for veterans' care.
• Arts and Culture: He has served as Chairman Emeritus of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and a director for the Philadelphia Regional Performing Arts Center.