Emergency Physician, Ellestad, Joins GRMC Team

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center emergency department welcomes Stephen M. Ellestad, DO, in December. Ellestad will join the emergency department as the fifth full-time physician, who rotates with the other emergency medicine physicians providing 365-day coverage for emergencies. He replaces Philip D. Sundquist, MD, who left in August.

Ellestad has more than 20 years of experience in emergency medicine and family practice care. He most recently worked with Ankeny-based Acute Care, Inc., in hospital emergency department contract coverage. Before moving to Iowa, he was in family practice in Plainsville, Kan., for seven years. Prior to that, he was a contract emergency department physician in various locations in Kansas.

After high school graduation, Ellestad enlisted in the Navy where he originally planned to become a physical or occupational therapist. However, in the service, he met several doctors of osteopathy who encouraged him to consider medical school. Ellestad enrolled in Coe College, Cedar Rapids, after the Navy to earn his bachelor’s degree. He then attended the Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences to earn his medical degree. His internship residency was at Womack Army Community Hospital in Ft. Bragg, N.C. Following his training, he took a position as the general medical officer in the outpatient and emergency room at Munson Army Community Hospital in Ft. Leavenworth, Kan, where he also served as a flight surgeon.

Ellestad has spent the majority of his career in emergency medicine and he enjoys that environment.

“I like the variety of patients. Every shift has new patients and challenging diseases or injuries coming through the door,” Ellestad says.

This fervor for high intensity work environment like an ER is why GRMC recruited Ellestad.

“The volume of patients who use the GRMC emergency department continues to grow each year,” explains John Bambara, MD, director of the GRMC emergency department. “With our proximity to the interstate and the agricultural industry of the county, we see a wide spectrum of accidents and emergency health conditions. Dr. Ellestad will be an excellent provider for GRMC patients. His compassion and bedside manner is great. He has a calm demeanor to confidently comfort our patients in an emergency and with many years of medical experience and expertise.”

Ellestad and his wife of 36 years, Stephanie, have two grown children. Emergency departments typically work 12-hour shifts so his free time is limited. To relax, Ellestad enjoys weight training and reading.