Princeton University Athletics
Alexander Ellis ‘94 MD / Men's Cross Country & Track
City, State / Workplace / Title
Virginia Beach, VA / Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters & Eastern Virginia Medical School. Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiologist
Medical Specialty / Other Degrees (MBA/MPH, etc.)
Pediatric Cardiology and Adult Congenital Cardiology / M.Sc. from McGill University
What made you choose a career in healthcare?
I worked as a field biologist and graduate student in Panama for nearly two years after Princeton before deciding to attend medical school. While I loved the rigors of scientific investigation, I wanted to have a more long-lasting, tangible, and direct positive influence on peoples' lives. Medicine, specifically pediatrics, afforded me that opportunity.
What is the focus of your work today?
Diagnosing and treating patients of all ages (from infancy through adulthood) who were born with some form of congenital heart defect. Within this specialty, I focus on cardiac imaging, from echocardiography to cardiac CT and MRI imaging.
How has your work changed in the face of COVID-19?
You must believe in yourself and set goals - reaching and seeking to improve, to become better at what you do or a better version of yourself.Alexander Ellis
Like most areas of medicine, we entered survival mode for the first month or two - suspending all but the most critical surgeries and heart catheterizations. We got back to in-person visits fairly quickly -- telemedicine doesn't really work in my specialty (hard to evaluate peoples' hearts over a video screen!). Fortunately relatively few of our patients with congenital heart disease became very sick with COVID, and those that did often recovered nicely. Most of our patients and families worked very hard to avoid infection and to "do the right thing" for the larger community. I have been surprised and disappointed by the politicization of mask wearing and immunizations. I hope that there can be renewed trust in science and medical care and advice.
How did being a Princeton student-athlete prepare you for the challenges you’ve faced?
As an athlete and specifically as a runner, one learns that hard work and training, while difficult or potentially painful, pays off in the end. You must believe in yourself and set goals - reaching and seeking to improve, to become better at what you do or a better version of yourself. Our coach for my first two years, Larry Ellis, used to tell us to "go out hard, pick it up in the middle, and kick it on in...and NEVER let anyone pass you in the last half mile!" I think that is a good philosophy for life - get out of the blocks fast, don't let up in the middle, and always finish strong, even when you want to give up or coast in. It also helps to have a coach or cheerleader in life. In college, it certainly helped that our coach was ALWAYS watching (hiding behind trees to check on us during long runs or standing by the track during workouts) and you never wanted to disappoint him. In life, being inspired by friends, family, and colleagues motivates me to become a better version of myself.
What keeps you inspired as you look ahead?
Our patients now have a very good chance of surviving infancy and childhood, thanks to advances in our diagnostic imaging, surgery, and ICU care. There are actually now more adults living with congenital cardiac defects than infants/children. However, this has not traditionally been the focus of our field. Looking ahead, we have to focus on optimizing adolescent and adult patients' quality of life as well as helping them navigate through routine medical challenges of adulthood, made all the more complicated by their underlying medical conditions.
Medical School / Other Affiliations
Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Tiger Heroes
In partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, the official health care system of Princeton Athletics, “Tiger Heroes” honors front line workers and health care leaders from our alumni community. This digital and social series highlights alumni from all 37 varsity sports programs who have risen to the challenge since the onset of COVID-19. We also recognize special Princeton friends and family. Nominations may be sent to Jess Deutsch, Princeton's Associate Director, Student-Athlete Services: jdeutsch@princeton.edu