Obituary
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - Dr. Robert Gordon Ellison Sr., a stalwart of the Medical College of Georgia who helped revolutionize the field of cardiothoracic surgery, died Jan. 8 at age 89 at MCG.
Dr. Robert Ellison
"Dr. Ellison's contributions as a member of the MCG faculty are incalculable," said MCG President Daniel W. Rahn. "He was directly responsible for many of MCG's most groundbreaking achievements, and he simply helped change the face of health care. He will be sorely missed."
The funeral will be held Thursday, Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. at Augusta's Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 Monte Sano Ave., followed by burial at Westover Memorial Park, 2601 Wheeler Road. The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Elliott and Sons Funeral Home, 1134 Telfair St.
Dr. Ellison, the son of John Gordon Ellison and Fredricka Fisher Ellison, was a native of Millen, Ga. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1939 and a medical degree from MCG in 1943. After completing an internship and residency at University Hospital and MCG and a cardiopulmonary physiology fellowship at Bellevue Hospital of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, he joined the MCG faculty in 1947 as an instructor and became professor of thoracic surgery and chief of the Section of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery in 1959. He was named Leon Henri Charbonnier Professor of Surgery in 1973. He retired from MCG in 1987 as Charbonnier Professor of Surgery Emeritus and Chief of the Section of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Emeritus. He was chief of general thoracic surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta from 1987-1991.
He contributed extensively to MCG's teaching, research and educational missions and performed Georgia's first open-heart operation in 1956. He worked closely with his wife, Dr. Lois Taylor Ellison, whom he married in 1945 and who helped develop MCG's cardiopulmonary laboratory for cardiac catheterizations and pulmonary function studies. His research contributions in the cardiothoracic surgery field included improved modified techniques for cardiothoracic surgery, investigation of pacemakers, long-term evaluation of mechanical versus tissue prosthesis, evaluation of methods of myocardial preservation during open heart surgery, long term results of surgery for coronary artery disease and transplantation of the heart and lung.
Dr. Ellison was a past president of the Augusta Area Tuberculosis Association, the Georgia Heart Association, the Georgia Surgical Society, the Georgia Thoracic Society, the Georgia Tuberculosis Association, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He chaired the American Board of Thoracic Surgery from 1979-81. He was a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Surgeons and the Southeastern Surgical Congress. He was a member of the Alpha Omega Honor Society and Sigma Xi.
His many awards included a School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, School of Medicine Distinguished Faculty Award for Institutional Service, School of Medicine Recognition and Appreciation Award, American Heart Association Heart of Gold Award, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Silver Platter, Richmond County Medical Society Achievement Award, Medical Association of Georgia Hardman Cup, 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and MCG's 2005 Vessel of Life Award, presented to Dr. Ellison and his wife. The Robert G. Ellison, M.D. Symposium on Thoracic Surgery was established in his honor.
He published 133 articles in medical journals, was co-editor of one book, author of one book and contributed chapters to 11 books.
He was a member of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church and the Damren Sunday School Class, the Kiwanis Club and the Augusta Country Club.
Dr. Ellison's survivors include his wife, Dr. Lois Taylor Ellison; five sons, Dr. Robert G. Ellison Jr. and wife Penny of Jacksonville, Fla., Dr. Gregory T. Ellison and wife Marty of Augusta, Dr. Mark F. Ellison and wife Betsy of Athens, James W. Ellison of Augusta and John C. Ellison and wife Jackie of Atlanta; grandchildren Robert G. Ellison III, Lauren Ellison, Taylor Ellison Jr., Leigh Ellison, Sarah Ellison, Mark Ellison Jr., David Ellison, John Ellison Jr. and Jerry Ellison; and brother Fred F. Ellison of Durham, N.C. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Robert G. Ellison, M.D., Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery at MCG, MCG Foundation, Inc., 919 15th St. Alumni Center, Augusta, Ga., 30912 or the Television Ministries of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, Ga. 30904.
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1916 - 2006 (89 years)
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