Tyler, Texas-based East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System President and CEO Elmer G. Ellis plans to retire, effective Feb. 28. He has worked at the organization for 50 years.
Mr. Ellis joined Medical Center Hospital, now ETMC Tyler, in 1968 as assistant administrator. He assumed the ETMC president and CEO role in 1985. He began his healthcare career at St. Joseph Hospital in Paris, Texas.
During his tenure, ETMC grew into a multi-hospital health network. Mr. Ellis spearheaded the development of East Texas Medical Center EMS, a nonprofit ambulance service, and expanded ETMC Tyler’s centers of excellence to include advanced specialties in cardiology, cancer, neurology and behavioral health.
Mr. Ellis earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Healthcare Administration from the Texas Hospital Association.
ETMC is on the cusp of a new phase of growth. In September 2017, Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services and Austin-based the University of Texas System formed a joint venture to acquire ETMC. Officials involved in the sale are nearing an agreement, but the closing date has not been set.