Scott Ellner, DO, MPH, MHCM, FACS, has been selected by the Billings Clinic Board of Directors as the next Chief Executive Officer of Billings Clinic. Billings Clinic is the largest health system serving Montana, Wyoming, and the western Dakotas. He will assume the role in January 2020.
Dr. Ellner is a board-certified physician specializing in general surgery and currently serves as Group President for Physician Alignment at Centura Health in Colorado and western Kansas, overseeing a healthcare system that meets the needs of over a half million people each year.
Throughout his career, he has spearheaded widely acclaimed patient safety initiatives, such as implementing the Saint Francis Surgical Safety Task Force which significantly improved patient outcomes in the Operating Room. He also frequently speaks on surgical quality, value-based health care delivery and physician leadership.
In a release by Billings Clinic, Joy Ott, Billings Clinic Board Chair, said that “as a board, we were very impressed with Dr. Ellner’s passion for patient safety and quality healthcare, along with his commitment to the people that make it possible to deliver on the mission.”
At Billings Clinic, Dr. Ellner will focus on expanding resources from the Billings market to rural areas of Montana, in particular much needed psychiatric care. With an exceptional background as an educator, he is also excited about the Clinic’s internal and psychiatry residency programs.
Dr. Ellner serves as adjunct clinical associate professor at Rocky Vista University (RVU) and is a founding member of the newly created University Executive Advisory Council (EAC) in Colorado. The EAC advises the University’s President and identifies opportunities for students including mentoring, residency programs, and service projects. Additionally, Dr. Ellner was the Commencement Speaker in 2019.
