JEFFREY WARREN ELLIS, M.D.

Jeffrey Warren Ellis, M.D., physician, educator, author—and lifelong musician—passed away April 11, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate care, academic excellence, and dedication to women’s health, along with a well-earned reputation for humor, storytelling, and never taking himself too seriously.
Born and raised in Flossmoor, Il, Dr. Ellis earned his Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Grinnell College in 1969 and later graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1973. During his medical training, he was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received the Hoffman-LaRoche Scholastic Award. He completed postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush-Presbyterian–St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, as well as a General Surgery residency at the University of Arkansas.
A board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Dr. Ellis devoted close to five decades to clinical practice, teaching, and research. Throughout his career, he held faculty positions at several prominent institutions including Rush Medical College, Northwestern University Medical School, Emory University School of Medicine, and the Medical College of Georgia. He often joked that between teaching, writing, and practicing medicine, he was “pretty sure he’d accidentally signed up for three full-time jobs—but decided to keep them anyway.”
Dr. Ellis served in numerous leadership roles within healthcare institutions. Among these were Chairman and Chief of Service for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Southeast Permanente Medical Group of Georgia, Medical Director of the Emory University Family Planning Program at Grady Memorial Hospital, and director of multiple clinical programs including the Dysplasia/Colposcopy Center and Mature Women’s Health Center. Later in his career, he practiced as a Laborist and Locums Physician with licenses in nine states, providing specialized care for high-risk pregnancies in rural underserved areas…proving that he could, in fact, be in several places at once, at least on paper.
Dr. Ellis made significant contributions to medical literature and education. He was the author or editor of 18 books, with more than 1.6 million copies in print worldwide. His works included the widely used “Clinical Manual of Obstetrics” and “Clinical Manual of Gynecology,” as well as numerous family medical guides and educational materials used by childbirth educators and healthcare professionals. He took pride in making complex topics understandable—often with a touch of wit that students remembered long after the exams were over.
Beyond obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Ellis pursued additional specialties including urogynecology, pelvic reconstruction, wound care, hyperbaric medicine, and diving medicine. His professional interests also included research related to prenatal exposure to carbon monoxide. He approached medicine with both seriousness and perspective, believing that bed side manner and a gentle sense of humor were often as important as a good diagnosis.
Outside of medicine, Jeff was an accomplished and passionate musician. From High School on he played in rock bands. In College that offered his band “the Wildcats” an opportunity to open for “The Shirelles”—something he was always just humble enough to mention frequently. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he played guitar, bass, and keyboards, and was known to switch instruments as easily as he switched between professional roles. He liked to say he was “only doing the OB-Gyn thing until the rock star career kicked in,” and after nearly fifty years in medicine, he would note with a smile that he was “still waiting on my big break.”
Dr. Ellis also had a deep interest in Civil War history. He was highly respected among his Civil War History enthusiast for his extensive knowledge of Confederate historical documents, and Confederate bonds. He could discuss historical details at length—and often did—usually with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loved the subject and the good humor to know when he might be outlasting his audience.
Dr. Ellis will be remembered not only for his many professional accomplishments, but also for his compassion beyond the clinic and his generous philanthropic spirit.
in 2008, he married Joan Kautz in front of the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Mississippi, on a parade float to raise funds for Blair C. Batson Children’s Hospital, with 2,500 bridesmaids from all over the world in attendance. The Sweet Potato Queens© crowned him “The Doctah of Luv.”
He went on to marry Joan five more times in five different states—just to make absolutely certain he had it covered, and that there was no jurisdiction in which Joan wasn’t unquestionably his wife.
The only thing Jeff Ellis loved more than chocolate was his family—though it’s widely believed that on certain days, it was a very close call.
Proud father to Courtney and Chris, Jeff often called his children his greatest accomplishment. His fatherly love, guidance, wisdom, and fantastic sense of humor will live on through them. He was his son Chris’ trusted navigator through life’s ups and downs, with a few detours, and forever “Daddy” to Courtney, who he always stated no matter how old “she will ALWAYS be my little girl." John Maxwell said, “Many people go far in life because someone else thought they could,” Jeff Ellis was that “someone.” Without a doubt, his legacy lives on in his children.
He was devoted to animal welfare and volunteered for many years with animal rescue organizations as a foster home and transporter—proving that his care extended to patients of all sizes, species, and temperaments.
His life will be quietly honored by those who loved him most, wife, Joan Kautz Ellis; daughter, Courtney Ellis Burrows (Brian); his cherished grandchildren, Reagan, Ansley, and Bryce; son, Christopher J. Ellis, PhD; and his brother, James Ellis (Kim).
Those who loved him will remember not only his unwavering warmth, but also the twinkle of humor he carried through every moment of life.
Memorials may be sent to Just Jacks Rescue, Inc. 8835 SW 107 Ave # 294, Miami, FL 33176 Paypal = [email protected]