New York Orthopaedic Surgeon to Lead Foot and Ankle Research, Education, and Humanitarian Efforts

Rosemont, Ill. (July 25, 2018) – Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, Scott J. Ellis, MD, has been named president of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society® (AOFAS) that advances the Society’s mission by funding and promoting education, research, and human endeavors.

As president of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, Ellis plans to introduce two new Pillars of the AOFAS. Launched earlier this year, the Pillars initiative honors iconic surgeons who have advanced the Society and profession. Dr. Ellis also will oversee the completion of Campaign 50, the Foundation’s $3 million campaign in celebration of the 50th anniversary of AOFAS, and aims to increase industry and member support of the Society’s initiatives for research, education, humanitarian outreach, and advocacy. 

Ellis earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and performed his residency and fellowship in orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. Currently, Dr. Ellis is a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon at HSS and an associate professor in orthopaedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. 

“I want to help secure the future financial support for all the AOFAS programs that benefited me and my trainees so much in the past. I have been the recipient of several AOFAS research grants, did the AOFAS Traveling Fellowship Program, and have multiple residents that have participated in the Resident Scholarship Program,” Dr. Ellis said. “I also want to ensure that my friends and colleagues who have been able to participate in the Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam can continue to do so, and potentially help at new sites including Haiti, Kenya, and China.”

Prior to his presidency, Dr. Ellis played an active role in the Society by serving a two-year term as member-at-large on the AOFAS Board of Directors. He chaired the AOFAS Young Physicians Committee from 2012-2015. In addition, he was a co-investigator on papers that received the prestigious Roger A. Mann and J. Leonard Goldner Awards presented at AOFAS Annual Meeting 2014. This year at AOFAS Annual Meeting 2018, Dr. Ellis was one of the recipients awarded the International Federation of Foot & Ankle Societies (IFFAS) Award of Excellence for the top international paper. 

Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consist of four years of medical school, five years of postgraduate residency, and a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists care for patients of all ages, performing reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treating sports injuries, and managing foot and ankle trauma. 

About the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation 
The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), is a 501(c)(3) organization that advances the AOFAS mission to improve lives through exceptional orthopaedic foot and ankle care. Through its funding of humanitarian endeavors, educational outreach programs, and innovative research, the Foundation enhances foot and ankle care for patients around the world. For more information visit the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation online at aofas.org/foundation.

Contact: 
Christie Brannon
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Office: 847-430-5127
cbrannon@aofas.org