Sheila J. Ellis, MD, began her role as President of Medical Staff of Nebraska Medicine on January 1st, 2022, following her election to the position of President-Elect in 2019. Dr. Ellis will serve a two-year term in the role representing the interests of the medical staff to the medical executive committee (MEC) and the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors. Dr. Ellis succeeds Lindsay Gage, MD, an Omaha-area nephrologist, and alum of the UNMC College of Medicine. Dr. Ellis is the first faculty member from the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology to be elected to the medical staff presidency.
"We are excited for Dr. Ellis in her new role as Medical Staff President," said Harris Frankel, MD, chief medical officer and chief compliance officer at Nebraska Medicine. "She is an accomplished physician who brings medical staff leadership experience to the presidency, having previously served as chair of the medical staff credentials committee. Being in an elected position of her peers speaks to the confidence the medical staff has in her leadership abilities and their trust in her overseeing the governance of the organized medical staff of TNMC," Dr. Frankel said.
Dr. Ellis is a professor and vice chair of faculty development in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology. For over 25 years, Dr. Ellis has been a department leader who has served in numerous professional capacities in and outside the department. Dr. Ellis has served as interim department chair of anesthesiology from 2008 to 2010, and as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology since 2004. Additionally, she has previously chaired the University hospitals’ medical staff credentials committee.
Dr. Ellis’ accomplishments tell the story of a distinguished and outstanding career in medicine, which Dr. Ellis called both gratifying and fulfilling. "This opportunity is a great way to cross boundaries and get engaged with other departments, as well as work with nursing staff and leadership in other areas," Dr. Ellis said. The presidency is a milestone in an extensive line of achievements Dr. Ellis has made in the past two and half decades.
"Dr. Ellis has been an active and contributing member of the medical staff for years," said Steven J. Lisco, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology. "This honor is truly well-deserved. She will do an absolutely outstanding job."
In her new role, Dr. Ellis said supporting medical providers of all kinds is one of her main goals.
"It’s important to address the wellbeing of our medical staff and give them an avenue by which to be represented at a leadership level," Dr. Ellis said. "We will continue to provide high quality care, improve our safety records, and address any other difficulties that providers may encounter in their work."
The president of medical staff is the primary elected officer who represents the medical staff at TNMC, which consists of academic physicians from UNMC and the Omaha community. Acting jointly with the MEC as chair, Dr. Ellis will provide direction to and oversee medical staff activities related to assessing and promoting continuous quality improvement of all medical staff functions, as outlined in related bylaws, rules, regulations, and policies. She will serve as an ex-officio member of all other medical staff committees, with duties related to staff credentialing, appointment, compliance, and other aspects of medical staff governance.
"Additionally, by way of her presidency, she will also have a seat with the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors, and I have no doubt she will be a good steward in representing the TNMC medical staff to the Board. On a personal note, I look forward to working with Dr. Ellis and suspect I will continue to learn with and from her," Dr. Frankel said.
Dr. Ellis emphasized the significance of anesthesiologist representation at the hospital-executive level. "We are in contact with so many departments. Anesthesiologists have a wide footprint. We’re present in outpatient centers, clinics, procedures, and more areas. Being involved in setting policies and procedures helps ensure that the care we provide adheres to our high standards for quality and safety," she said.
Dr. Ellis concluded by saying that her success so far—from her beginnings at UNMC to today—is thanks to the department’s immense support. She hopes this will pave the way for more department team members to pursue engagement opportunities.
"It’s important for us to be involved and to have a seat at the table," Dr. Ellis said.
Congratulations, Sheila! We are proud of you!