Being the Best Part of a Family’s Worst Day – Dr. Donald Ellis

What does it take to lead a medical team through a child’s emergency and be a calm, confident presence for families during their worst moments? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Donald “Don” Ellis, a pediatric emergency medicine physician now based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Don shares his journey from Delaware to building a pediatric emergency program in the Dakotas—something he describes as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve an underserved region. Don unpacks what makes pediatric emergency care so unique, how it differs from general emergency medicine, and why he insists on a first-name basis with his team to eliminate barriers to communication when seconds matter. From the launch of a new pediatric ER wing to the role of "Child Life" specialists and an upcoming emergency medicine residency, Don’s work is reshaping healthcare access for children in the Upper Midwest.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.