Daniel W. Elliott Md

The Dan W. Elliott, M.D. Resident Research Symposium Dan W. Elliott, M.D. was born in Greenville, Ohio, just a few miles from Dayton, in 1922. He studied pre-med at the Ohio State University from 1941-43 and graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 1949. He completed his internship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City (1949-51) and his surgical residency training at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio (1951, 1953-57). He served as a chief surgical resident at Children’s Hospital in Columbus (1955-56) and at the University Hospital (1956-57). While at OSU, he trained under Dr. Robert Zollinger, to whom he has referred as “the great teacher.” During his training, Dr. Elliott served in the military as a Medical Corpsman, PFC (1943-46) during World War II and as Captain in the US Air Force Reserve (1951-53) during the Korean War. After training, Dr. Elliott joined the faculty at Ohio State as Assistant Professor (1957-59), Associate Professor (1959-63) and Professor (1963-64). He also held the title of Director of Surgical Research Laboratories (1961-64). He then moved to the University of Pittsburgh where he served as Clinical Professor (1964-71) and Professor of Surgery (1971-1976). In Pittsburgh, he was the Chief of Surgical Service first at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital and then at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1971-76. In 1976, Dr. Elliott was lured to the brand new medical school at Wright State University. He served as Professor and Chair from 1976-1988, and was appointed Professor Emeritus in 1988. During the same time, Dr. Elliott served as Program Director of the WSU Integrated Surgical Residency Program. Dr. Elliott was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1958, was elected to fellowship in the American College of Surgeons in 1960, and was elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha while a medical student at Yale. He is a member of many medical and surgical organizations, including the American Surgical Association, Society of University Surgeons and the Central Surgical Association, which he served as President in 1987. Editorial board involvement has included The American Journal of Surgery (1958-97) and The American Surgeon (1961-87). Dr. Elliott was recruited to the WSU School of Medicine by the Department of Surgery’s original steering committee. Quickly, he won the support from the local community for a surgical department. He developed the clerkship curriculum with the voluntary faculty for the first class entering in 1976. Under his capable leadership, an integrated surgical residency program was formed from the four existing programs at Kettering Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Miami Valley Hospital. St. Elizabeth Medical Center (now Franciscan Medical Center), Wright-Patterson AFB Medical Center and the Children’s Medical Center supported the integration. He advocated the concept that surgical education has spread beyond the great academic medical centers and made that a reality in the City of Dayton. He ascribes to the philosophy that full-time faculty and voluntary faculty can work in a partnership to educate residents and students. His Central Surgical Association presidential address supported that belief. It was entitled “Outsiders in Surgical Education or Are the Voluntary Faculty Worth More Than They Are Paid?” He answered his question with a resounding “yes!” The Department of Surgery is fortunate to have our solid foundation built by such an outstanding educator and administrator. Today, much of the department’s success can be attributed to the good decisions made in the early days. The idea for a forum for the residents to present their original work was developed by Dr. Elliott. In 1987, he invited Hiram Polk, M.D. to listen to the first presentations. In 1988, the program was officially launched as the Resident Research Symposium and Olga Jonasson, M.D. was the first official guest judge. Each year, residents present their original research findings in front of their peers, faculty and other interested guests. In February 1998, the Department of Surgery Executive Committee unanimously approved naming this event the Dan W. Elliott, M.D. Resident Research Symposium. It is our hope that the educational excellence begun by Dr. Elliott can be carried into the future. ELLIOTT, Dr. Daniel Whitacre, M.D. (Dan), age 81, of Dayton, Ohio, died at his home Sunday, August 1, 2004. He was a native of Greenville, Ohio, the son of James Scott and LaVirge Whitacre Elliott, attended the Ohio State University 1941-43, and served as a medical corpsman during World War II. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 1949, winning that year’s Campbell Prize for highest grades. An internship followed at the Columbia –Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City (1949-51), and then service as a medical officer during the Korean War (Captain US Air Force 1951-53). He completed his specialty training in general surgery at Ohio State University in 1957 in the program headed by the renowned Dr. Robert M. Zollinger, who greatly influenced his future career and decision to practice surgery in a medical school setting. He joined the faculty at Ohio State, becoming Professor of Surgery by 1963, and began his research on pancreatic and biliary diseases. During his career he published 105 research papers or textbook chapters. He moved to the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, becoming Professor of Surgery and Chief of Surgical Services at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital (1964-70) and then at the Veterans Hospital (1970-76). He came to Dayton in 1976 to help found the new medical school at Wright State University, becoming Professor and first Chair of its Department of Surgery. Early in his tenure full accreditation was achieved for the integrated five-year residency program in general surgery sponsored by Wright State University with the full cooperation of all seven Dayton hospitals. He directed this program for 45 surgical residents until his retirement at the end of 1988. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of a number of national surgical organizations, including the Society of University Surgeons, and the American, Western and Central Surgical Associations. He was president of the Central Surgical Association in 1987. In Dayton he was a member and deacon at the Westminster Presbyterian Church and treasurer of The Discussion Club. DAYTON, OHIO OBITUARY Dr. Elliott is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elizabeth Wolff Elliott, and by two children, a son, James Calvin Elliott and wife, Kim, of Independence, KY, and a daughter, Lisa Ann Elliott and fiancé, Gary Shoup, of Dayton. There will be a memorial service at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson at First St., Dayton with The Rev. Sandy McConnel officiating, on Saturday, August 7, at 9:30 AM. The family will meet with friends following the service in the fellowship hall at Westminster. A private burial will be held at David’s Cemetery. If desired the family suggests memorial gifts to the Department of Surgery, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, or to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 7 Dayton, OH 45402 or The American Red Cross, P.O. Box 517 Dayton, OH 45401-0517. Condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429