Dr. Elizabeth Fuselier Ellis Honored with Award of Distinction at William Woods University

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Dr. Elizabeth Fuselier Ellis (left), recipient of the Award of Distinction from William Woods University, and Becky Stinson, WWU alumni director.

FULTON, MO (05/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Dr. Elizabeth Fuselier Ellis of Bedias, Texas, received the Award of Distinction during William Woods University's Alumni Weekend, April 15-17.

The Award of Distinction was created to honor an alumna who has achieved national or international fame in her chosen field. Ellis graduated from William Woods with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration in 1987.

While at William Woods, Ellis was a student alumni council freshman representative, freshman orientation leader and an admissions assistant. She was a member of Chi Omega, Phi Beta Lambda, Paddock Club and the yearbook staff. Ellis also participated in horse shows and appeared on the achievement list.

After leaving the Woods, Ellis went on to earn her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center-College of Nursing in Memphis. Her initial nursing career focused on emergency medicine and rural health in Mississippi and Tennessee.

In 1998, Ellis became the lead nurse practitioner at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, La., where she practiced in internal medicine, pediatrics and fast track emergency room nursing. In 2005, she accepted a position with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing as the executive clinical director of UT health services and assistant professor.

In 2007, Ellis was appointed chief of advanced practice at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, where she designed innovative models of patient care, oversaw all advanced practice administrative and professional issues for the hospital, and partnered with the school to create opportunities for students and faculty. The leadership model she created at Hermann is now recognized nationally for nurse practitioners.

In 2010, Ellis and her husband, Jerry, moved to Bryan, Texas, where she accepted a clinical appointment with St. Joseph Regional Health Center as the first nurse practitioner to practice solo in their express care center. She was also appointed to develop an employee primary care health clinic for all employees and dependents of the city of Bryan.

Ellis served the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education as an executive board member from 2009-2011, the board of commissioners from 2008-2011, the accreditation review committee from 2008-2011 and the standards committee from 2007-2009. She is published on the topics of doctor of nursing practice education and nurse practitioner utilization and billing, and has presented nationally on both subjects.

In June of 2010, Ellis was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, which recognizes nurse practitioner leaders who have made significant contributions to health care.