William Ellert, M.D. joined Abrazo Health as the System’s Chief Medical Officer in 2014.  The Abrazo Health System consists of five (5) acute care hospitals located on six (6) campuses as well as an employed physician’s group, ambulatory centers, and free standing emergency centers.  He also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Arizona Care Network (ACN).  ACN is a Clinically Integrated Network founded in 2012 and collaboratively owned by Dignity Health Arizona and Abrazo Health, consisting of over 2000 physician partners.  Dr. Ellert is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

His academic appointments have included serving as an associate professor at Creighton Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine and a clinical associate professor for the University of Arizona’s Family and Community Medicine Department.

Dr. Ellert served as the Chief Medical Officer of Dignity Medical Group (formerly St. Joseph’s Medical Group) from 2011-2013.  At Abrazo Health, Ellert was the Chief Medical Officer at Phoenix Baptist Hospital from 2009-2011.  He spent part of that time also as the Chief Medical Officer for the Arizona Heart Hospital Campus and Maryvale Hospital.  Prior to that, for approximately six (6) years, Ellert served as a Hospitalist at Phoenix Baptist Hospital and Phoenix Memorial Hospital and ancillary faculty for the Phoenix Baptist Family Medicine Residency Program, all part of the Abrazo System.

Ellert’s community work dates back more than 30 years.  He currently is Chair of the Board of Directors for Circle the City, which provides respite care for homeless patiets who are recuperating from surgery, acute medical problems, or trauma.  He also served on the Board for First Things First and the Advisory Board for Healthcare for the Homeless.  Prior to 2000, he served on various Boards in Delaware related to providing healthcare to people of little means and few resources.

He has received several awards in his career, including the National Family Physician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2009.

Ellert earned his M.D. at Northeast Ohio Medical University.  He also studied at University College, Cork School of Medicine in Ireland.  He earned an MSN at the University of Pennsylvania and a BSN at The Catholic University of America.