Dr. John and Nancy Ellis have been making a difference all their lives. As the founding father of the joint replacement program at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Dr. Ellis built from scratch a legacy that now performs more than 1,800 joint replacement procedures per year. He knows from experience what it is to have a dream and then actually build it. Together, the couple continues to build dreams with their family, their friends and neighbors, their professions, and their community. For them, helping others brings great joy to their lives.
A Kansas native and son of a physician, Dr. Ellis met fellow undergraduate, Nancy Borel, while at the University of Kansas. Four years after their marriage in 1962, he graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1970 after his general surgery residency. Dr. Ellis' Navy commitment fulfilled; the family moved to St. Louis for his three-year orthopedic residency at Washington University's Barnes Hospital. As chief orthopedic resident, he developed expertise in hip replacement procedures.
The couple and their three children moved to Pinehurst almost 50 years ago when Dr. Ellis joined Pinehurst Surgical Clinic to grow the orthopedic surgery services at Moore Regional Hospital. Today, FirstHealth Moore Regional has one of the largest total joint replacement programs in the state; is among the top 100 orthopedic hospitals nationally; and has one of the highest success rates in the country. Dr. Ellis attributes the quality of the program and its resulting reputation to excellent people and good, old-fashioned teamwork. "Our team approach, which we developed early on, is what sets us apart. Everyone who has a role in caring for patients - before, during, and after surgery - is also part of the joint replacement team. Surgeons around the country often came to Moore Regional to learn about the newest techniques and technology in orthopedic surgery," he recalled. "But the visiting surgeons usually discovered that the most important aspect their own hospital lacked was not technology - it was the team!"
Retiring from active practice in 2001, Dr. Ellis did not retire from his deep involvement with the community. Faithfully dedicated to improving the lives of others, Dr. Ellis and Nancy have remained actively involved in the greater community, spending countless hours sharing their time, wisdom, and charitable support. Currently, Dr. Ellis is playing a key role in the development of the new outpatient comprehensive cancer center through the Building the Dream Campaign, as a returning member of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Nancy has long championed for education and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Sandhills Community College. She was the founding chair of the Penick Village Foundation and a past chair of the Sandhills Community College Foundation.
This power couple does not just talk the talk - they truly walk the talk. The Ellis' are proud members of the Foundation's Legacy Circle and are strong advocates for the use of wealth management tools the Foundation makes available for charitable planning. In support of the Stepping Stones Campaign, Dr. Ellis and Nancy executed a charitable gift annuity that has paid over $87,000 in partially tax-free income over the past 15 years.
They are fans of the charitable IRA rollover as a lifetime giving method and as a tax planning tool; and have designated the Foundation and other organizations as beneficiaries of an IRA account. "We feel these methods of contributing are beneficial to the charitable organization, and also to the giver in a very tangible sense," Dr. Ellis states.
Thanks to his long tenure and active support, Dr. Ellis holds the distinction of being involved with four primary philanthropic campaigns at FirstHealth. In 2004 he enthusiastically stepped up accepting the role as chair for the Stepping Stones Campaign, supporting the construction of the Reid Heart Center, Clara's Hospitality House, and the FirstHealth Hospice House. Stepping Stones was the largest capital campaign in the history of Moore Regional and FirstHealth, raising $34 million from our generous community.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Ellis said, "It is a joy to work with volunteers who are excited and enthusiastic about sharing our story. Of course, the ultimate goal of any campaign is to raise money; but we see it as an opportunity to educate people about the hospital, about the role it has played in the community; and likewise, the important role the community has played in its quality and success through the years.
We hope people will understand how special this hospital has been . . . is now, and with their help, can be far into the future.
The same principals apply to our current experience in executing the Building the Dream Campaign with one distinct difference . . . the campaign for the cancer center has grown organically from the hopes and dreams of community members and Foundation volunteers. The voices of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers were heard and their needs for support in all dimensions were taken to heart. Those voices moved the management of FirstHealth, and ultimately, the Board of Directors, to take a leap into the future by providing patient-centered cancer care no one could have imagined even 10 years ago. That is why space will be dedicated for a Healing Garden and supportive services, such as palliative care, cancer navigation, counseling and wellness."
As dynamic community members for the past 50 years, Dr. Ellis and Nancy have witnessed and fostered many advancements in health care and the growth of services in our community at large. Both have expressed their enthusiastic support for our future cancer center which will positively impact lives through world-class practices, technology, and expertise; while being delivered with compassion to our patients and the families we serve.
To learn more about planned giving opportunities such as a charitable IRA rollover and Charitable Gift Annuities through The Foundation of FirstHealth, please call our office at (910) 695-7500.
