Meet Your Neighbor: Dr. Marissa Miller 'discovers' a home in Shelby

SHELBY — Dentists have an eye for teeth. Cellists have an ear for music. The latter brought an ambitious cellist here, but the former keeps a local dentist practicing her art.

Meet your neighbor and native of central Maryland, Dr. Marissa Miller.

After graduating high school in the mid-'90s, Miller chose to study at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, because there was a professor of cello with whom she wanted to study. Although she graduated with her undergraduate degree and loved the experience, she realized she didn't want to be a musician for the rest of her life.

After leaving Miami University, Miller decided to head out west and found herself at 25-years-old living aimlessly in Boulder, Colorado. By that point, she’d had a couple of jobs. One afternoon, while sitting on her living room couch, she decided to pursue another path

“I had this revelation that I wanted a job where I could work with my hands, talk to people all day and not be bored," the dentist said. "It just came to me that dentistry would fill all of that."

A return to Ohio

She moved back to Ohio to study dentistry at The Ohio State University in Columbus. She graduated in 2008 and worked in Wooster for 18 months before realizing she wanted to be her own boss.

Then, in 2010, she learned about an opportunity to take over a practice in Shelby at Discovery Dental.

“I had no connections in Shelby or Richland County,” Miller said. “Shelby had a good vibe. Richland County had a good vibe. I feel like I was in the right place at the right time. It’s worked out really well.”

It also checked a few boxes.

“I get to work with my hands. It’s sort-of creative, it’s very problem-solving," she added. "That just does it for me."

Life in Shelby

Growing up in the suburbs of the Baltimore/Washington-area, she quickly discovered that Shelby is “very different."

"[It's] a centralized community built around the school, downtown and the community foundation. I've loved it," Miller said.

The area has embraced the warm and friendly doctor since she arrived. Its strong sense of community is something she did not grow up with. Knowing her neighbors and customers in such a close-knit environment enables connections in the area, which she said is "a benefit that I did not foresee when I first came here.”

Since moving to Richland County, Miller has proudly committed herself to a number of local causes. She is the chair of The Shelby Foundation for another year, and although neither her or her husband grew up on a farm, she loves being involved with Shelby FFA. Her stepdaughter’s interest in the group has been a springboard.

“She’s going to be showing a dairy feeder calf, a goat, and rabbits at the fair,” Miller said. “My stepdaughter is really proud of that; I’m really proud of her."

Miller finds time to share a mutual love of cooking with her husband or cozy up with a book while traveling.

“I read quite a bit. I love to travel. I’ve been really lucky to go to amazing places,” she shared.

Miller said she is also "obsessed" with her two cats, she says.

Her parents are from Ohio and it’s fitting that Miller, along with her parents and two younger sisters, have all made their homes in Ohio.

“Even though my sisters and I graduated in Maryland from high school, we’ve all come — one by one — to Ohio,” she said.

One sister followed her to Richland County, while the other lives in Columbus. Her parents live in the Hocking Hills area.

A commitment to advance dentistry

A genuine heart for people inspires the dentist.

“I want to be able to help my patients. Some people have great teeth and don’t need much from me,” Dr. Miller noted. “Some people need a lot from me. I know that I do a really good job. I know that I’m the right person for them to see.”

Her friendly employees ensure a smooth visit for every patient.

“I am also here for my team. I’ve been able to give good training, good job opportunities and good compensation for them; coming in everyday knowing that they have my back keeps me going," she added.

Meet Your Neighbor is a weekly series profiling people in Richland County and surrounding areas. Correspondent Joe Di Lullo can be reached at muckrack.com/dilulloj or jp.dilullo0926@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Dr. Marissa Miller loves begin a dentist in Shelby, OH