James Ellis, MD

James Ellis, MDDr. Ellis specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic medicine and pain management. He is board certified. Dr. Ellis is dedicated to the outpatient management of musculoskeletal disorders, including neck and back pain, sports medicine, nerve injuries, nerve pain, occupational injuries and EMG. He is one of the most experienced electromyographys in the state of Michigan having performed over 25,000 EMGs. He is board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society. He is a clinical assistant professor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Because of his leadership qualities, he has been elected to numerous professional committees and currently serves on the OAM operations and executive committees. He is passionate about treating patients in a holistic approach with an emphasis on nutrition, exercise and staying active.

Orthopaedic Associates Of Michigan Grand Rapids Top Doc

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Teaching Affiliations

Clinical Assistant Professor – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Private Practice

Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan July, 1995 – Present

Consulting Team Physician:

  • Grand Rapids Griffins – IHL Hockey, 1996
  • Grand Rapids Hoops – CBA Basketball, 1995
  • West Michigan White Caps – Midwest A Baseball, 1995
  • Grand Rapids Community College Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics, 1995

Education

Undergraduate:

  • Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • Nutritional Science, 1987

Honors:

  • Alpha Epsilon Delta – National Pre-Medicine Honor Society
  • Omicron Nu – National Human Ecology Honor Society
  • Michigan Competitive Scholarship
  • Awards for Excellence in Latin
  • Dean’s List

Medical:

  • Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI
  • M.D., September 1987 – June, 1991

Residency Training

Chief Resident:

  • William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
  • Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
    July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1995

Honors:

  • William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  • Director: Myron M. LaBan, M.D. F.A.C.P.
    July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1995

Internship:

  • William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
  • Preliminary Medicine
    July 1, 1991 – June 30, 1992

Beaumont Preventative and Nutritional Medicine – Staff Physician 1992 – 1995

Hospital Affiliations

• Corewell Health – Grand Rapids, MI – Courtesy Staff
• UM Health-West – Wyoming, MI – Courtesy Staff

Board Certifications

• American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – Recertification, 2017-2027
• American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – Recertification, 2007-2017
• American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – Certified 1997-2007
• American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine – Recertification, 2019-2028
• American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine – Recertification, 2009-2019
• American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Certified 1998-2008
• National Board of Medical Examiners: Parts I, II, III
• Subspecialty Certification in Pain Management, Certified 2000-2010

Licensure

• State of Michigan – Licensed until 7/17/2026

Teaching/Research

• Teaching: Rotation with student from UC, 12/2023
• Teaching: Rotation with Physician Assistant Student from WSU, 5/2021
• Lecture: Spectrum Health MSU CHM: EMG for the Hand Specialist, 3/2021
• Teaching: Rotation with Medical Student from MSU College of Medicine, 2/2021
• Lecture: Center for Physical Rehabilitation Worker’s Comp Conference Managing LBP, 2/2017
• Lecture: OAM Spine Conference – Neuromuscular & Musculoskeletal Mimics of Radiculopathy, 3/2016
• Lecture: Calvin College Lecture Series – Neuromuscular & Musculoskeletal Problems in Elderly Adults, 10/2010
• Lecture: Spectrum Health Hand Surgery Conference – EMG/NCV, 9/2002
• Lecture: Spectrum Health Sports Care Retreat – LBP in Athletes, 8/1999
• Lecture: Spectrum Heath Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds – LBP, 6/1999
• Panelist: This Old Back – West Michigan Public TV, 4/1999
• Lecture: Entrapment Neuropathies – 3rd Annual Sports medicine Conference, 3/1999
• Lecture: The Spine – Butterworth Department of Occupational Medicine, 11/1997
• Lecture: EMG – Orthopedics Grand Rounds Butterworth Hospital, 9/1997
• Lecture: Rehabilitation of Lower Back Pain – NovaCare, 10/1996
• Poster Presentation: AAP Myotonic Dystrophy, 3/1995
• Poster Presentation: American College of Physicians –Syringomyelia: Demographics & Disability, 1994
• Poster Presentation: AAPMR National Meeting –Syringomyelia: Demographics & Disability, 10/1994
• Presentation: The Effect of a Fish Diet on Serum Lipid Profiles, MSU Student Research Conference, 9/1988

Publications

• Grand Rapids Press – interviewed and quoted in “The Sunshine Vitamin”, July 2006
• Quest Magazine – Low Back Pain, November 1999
• Quest Magazine – Golf Injuries, July 1999
• American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Syringomyelia: Demographics & Disability, September 1995
• Abstract in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Syringomyelia: Demographics & Disability, September 1994

Leadership Positions

• Physician Lead, Physical Medicine & Rehab – Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan 2015-present
• Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan Executive Committee, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2024
• Physician Lead, Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan – CEO Search Subcommittee, 2019
• Mercy Health Joint Centers of Excellence Pilot Program, 2019
• Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan Operations Committee 2010-present
• Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan – Finance Committee – 2017 to present
• Medical Director Priority Health Spine Center of Excellence at Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan
• Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan Customer Service Advisory Group Founding Member, 2009
• Osteoporosis Advisory Group at Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan
• Appointed to Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan Merger Committee, 2008
• Elected to Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids Executive Committee, 2005-2007
• Appointed to Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids Merger Committee, 2005
• Founding Member Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids Physical Therapy Committee, 2001-2009
• Medical Staff coordinator for Berkley and Troy Public School Football Program, 1994
• Field Physician, Berkley and Troy Public School Football Program, 1993–1994
• Staff Physician, Beaumont Preventive Medicine Clinic, 1992–1994
• American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, 1992–1993

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

• AAPM&R National Grand Rounds: Transforming Health and Wellbeing: A lifestyle Medicine Approach in PM&R- 1/2024
• OrthoForum 2020 Annual Meeting- Phoeniz, AZ, 2/2020
• American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Annual Meeting- Orlando, FL, 10/2018
• Mayo Clinic Rehabilitation Medicine Update- Orlando, FL, 2/2017
• Mayo Clinic Electromyography and Neurophysiology in Clinical Practice- Amelie Island, FL, 1/2017
• EMG Maintenance of Certification Exam, 1/2017
• American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Self-Assessment Exam: Electrodiagnostics and Neuromuscular Medicine, 12/2015
• American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Self-Assessment Exam: Current Concepts in Physiatric Pain Management, 12/2015
• 10th Annual NASS Evidence & Technology Spine Summit- Park City, UT, 2/2014
• 8th Annual NASS Evidence & Technology Spine Summit- Park City, UT, 2/2012
• OAM Spine Conference – Ongoing monthly participant, 2011 to present
• Lippincott’s Bone and Joint, 2004, 2005, 2010 2011, 2013
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting- Québec City, QC 10/2010
• Northwestern University Medical School – 33rd Annual Electrodiagnosis and Clinical Neurophysiology: A High Intensity Review- Chicago, IL, 3/2010
• Mayo – Pain Conference- Marco Island, FL, 3/2008
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting- Phoenix, AZ, 10/2007
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting- Washington, DC, 10/2006
• American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Self-Assessment Exam – Sports and Performing Arts Medicine, 2004
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting- Savannah, GA, 11/2004
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine – Costoclavicular Mass Syndrome, 2/2003
• Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation- Chicago, IL, 10/2003
• Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation- Orlando, FL, 11/2002
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting- Albuquerque, NM, 10/2001
• Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation- San Francisco, CA, 11/2000
• Northwestern University Medical School – 21st Annual Electromyography & Clinical Neurophysiology: A High Intensity Review, 3/1998
• American College of Sports Medicine Team Physician Course- San Diego, CA, 2/1998
• Mayo – Electromyography in Clinical Practice, 3/1996

Memberships, Honors & Awards

• Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Docs, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• North American Spine Society
• Fellow, American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine
• Fellow, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Active Member of the following Academy Special Interest Groups: Sports Medicine, Industrial Rehabilitation, Pain Rehabilitation
• Physiatric Association of Sports, Spine, and Occupational Rehabilitation
• American Medical Association

Recent Books Read and Recommended

• Outlive the Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD
• Play On: The New Science of Elite Performance at Any Age by Jeff Bercovici
• How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger, MD, FACLM
• Young Forever by Mark Hyman, MD
• The Lucky Years: How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Health by David B. Angus, MD
• Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer by Steven Johnson
• Life Force: How New Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine can Transform the Quality of Your Life & Those You Love by Tony Robbins
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
• The TB 12 Method: How to Do What You Love, Better and Longer by Tom Brady

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