Specialty: Surgery

Blue Ridge Surgery
Medical Office Building at Grace Hospital
2209 S. Sterling Street, Suite 530
Morganton, NC 28655

Phone: 828-580-2250

Fax: 828-580-2252

After Hours Phone: 580-5000

Additional Information: We are accepting new patients.

Directions: Grace Hospital Medical Office Building (tall building to the right of the Grace Hospital entrance). Office is on the 5th floor - Suite 530

Valdese Hospital Medical Office Building (between the hospital and fire department, 2nd floor, Suite 220

Office Hrs: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm

Active Staff: Grace Hospital and Valdese Hospital

Board Certifications/Area of Certification
American Board of Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Education
Degree: MD
Institution: University Health Services, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL

Degree: MS
Institution: University Health Services, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL
Area of Concentration: Physiology

Degree: BS
Institution: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Area of Concentration: Biology (Cum Laude)

Residencies/Internships/Fellowships
Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery
Institution: University of Texas Health Science Center
Location: San Antonio, TX Type: Fellowship

Specialty: Surgical Residency
University of Texas Houston Medical School
Houston, TX Type: Residency

Institution: University of Texas Houston Medical School
Location: Houston, TX Type: Internship

Procedures approved to perform:

General & Laparoscopic Surgeries

• Colonoscopy and Stomach Endoscopy: Evaluating
abdominal pain and screening for colon cancer, removal
of polyps, diagnosis and treatment of stomach ulcers.
• Gall Bladder: Laparoscopic treatment of gallstones and
gall bladder disease.
• Splenectomy: Removal of the spleen laparoscopically
for various conditions.
• Appendicitis and Emergency Intestinal Conditions:
Evaluation of severe abdominal pain, which could indicate
bowel obstructions, appendicitis, Crohn’s disease,
diverticulitis, stomach and colon perforations, colitis, and
incarcerated (trapped) hernias. In some instances, emergency
surgery must be performed.
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal Fissures and Abscesses, Rectal Bleeding or Vomiting
Blood: Evaluation and treatment with endoscopy, medication
and/or surgery.
• Hernias: All types treated including groin, abdominal, hiatal
and umbilical hernias.
• Achalasia: Corrected by using small incisions to open up
the esophagus to ease this rare condition that causes
difficulty swallowing.
• Moles, Warts, Cysts & Tumors Under the Skin
• Breast Conditions: Breast biopsies including needle
localization, stereotactic breast biopsy, open biopsy and
ultrasound guided breast biopsy as well as diagnosis and
treatment of breast cancer which can include lumpectomy,
partial & total mastectomy.

Endocrine Surgery (thyroid & parathyroid)

• Thyroid: Surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism or Graves’
disease. Surgical removal of growths in the thyroid gland that
may be cancerous. Treatment of enlarged thyroid (goiter)
that is interfering with swallowing and breathing.

Vascular Surgery (veins & arteries)

• Aneurysm: Some aneurysms in the abdomen can be taken
care of with open surgical repair and endovascular repair.
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: Blocked arteries or blood vessels
to the buttocks, thighs, legs and feet sometimes can be
surgically repaired through stents and/or balloons.
• Carotid Stenosis: Treatment of blockage of the main artery or
blood vessel that feeds the brain.
• Angiography and Peripheral Endovascular Interventions
• IVC Filters

Kidney Problems and Dialysis:

• Arterial-Venous Fistulas: Placement of fistulas in the arm to
allow patients with kidney failure to undergo dialysis.

Oncologic Surgery (cancer)

• Offering surgical services for most types of cancer including
breast; skin including melanoma; lung including
lobectomies, pneumonectomies, parenchymal sparing
resections; and cancers of the stomach, intestine, colon,
thyroid, lymph glands, liver, pancreas, gall bladder and
bile passages.

Thoracic Surgery *VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery)

• Chest wall resections with reconstruction
• Surgery of the mediastinum including thymectomies for
thymoma (tumors of the thymus)
• Treatment of pericardial malignant effusions
• Treatment of mediastinal adenopathy via Chamberlin
procedure
• Treatment of mediastinal adenopathy (disease or
enlargement involving glandular tissue especially lymph
nodes)
• Treatment of pulmonary nodule with wedge resection
• Other surgeries include pleurodesis, thoracotomy or
decortication for removal of pus in the pleural cavity
(empyema); sympathectomy for excessive sweating
(hyperhidrosis); Heller myotomy for achalasia (failure of a
ring of muscle - a sphincter - to relax; tube thoracostomy
for treatment of gas or serious fluid in the pleural cavity
(hydropneumothorax); esophagectomy for high grade
dysplasia and esophageal cancer; bronchoscopy, both
flexible and rigid; insertion of central venous catheters
and port-a-catheters; and treatment for aorto-iliac
occlusive disease

Areas of special interest:
General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery

Additional info:
Dr. Ellertson, Jr. and his wife, Sun, have two children Audrey and Gregory. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, fly-fishing, hunting, camping and carpentry

Contact for follow-up or questions:
Name: Lisa Queen
Phone: 828-580-4220
Email: lqueen@blueridgehealth.org