The valedictorian of MacArthur High School in Lawton, Oklahoma, and a National Honor Society inductee, Dr. Marco Ellis enrolled at the University of Virginia in 1997 to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with a specialization in biochemistry. During this period, Dr. Marco Ellis assisted several professors across the country by researching cyclic diastereoselective additions, lung volume reduction surgery, and cytokine biology. A Ron Brown Scholar while at the University of Virginia, Dr. Marco Ellis also placed in the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and the Raven Society. Today, Dr. Marco Ellis retains ties with the school by acting as Class Trustee for The University of Virginia Alumni Association. Following the completion of his degree, Dr. Marco Ellis began attending Harvard Medical School, where he earned an award for mentoring and joined in a neighborhood revitalization program. For one of Dr. Marco Ellis’ fall semesters, he accepted a position of research assistant with the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Under the guidance of Dr. Steven Rauch, Dr. Marco Ellis investigated hormonal impacts on hemangioma evolution. He also interned with the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and provided technical support to the school. Starting in 2005, Dr. Marco Ellis began performing his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Since starting at the Chicago, Illinois-based facility, Dr. Marco Ellis has won several honors, such as an American Society for Maxillofacial Surgeons Biomet Resident Scholar award in 2009 and a teaching award in 2010. Planning to complete his residency in 2012, Dr. Marco Ellis supplements his work by performing craniofacial research at Shriners Hospital for Children and Children’s Memorial Hospital. In his spare time, Dr. Marco Ellis enjoys international traveling, web development, and long distance running. Over the past decade, he has completed marathons in Washington, D.C.; Boston; and Chicago.