For nearly half a century, Deborah Ellis, RN, has been a steady, compassionate presence at St. Dominic’s. This year, we honor her 45 years of service in endoscopy and beyond.
A Journey from Canada to Mississippi
Debbie’s career with St. Dominic’s began in an unexpected way — thanks to Sister Josephine, who traveled all the way to Debbie’s nursing school in Canada to recruit new graduates.
“I came down with five other girls from my nursing school,” Debbie recalls. “One reason I stayed was because of the close bonds I had formed with co-workers.”
A Career of Care and Adaptability
Debbie started out on the floor for one year before moving to the cardiovascular step-down unit, which later merged with cardiovascular recovery. In 2003, family needs led her to seek a daytime role, and she found her home in endoscopy, where she has served patients ever since.
The Kindness of the Dominican Sisters
When Debbie thinks back on her early days at St. Dominic’s, it’s the kindness of the Dominican Sisters that shines brightest.
“We were straight out of nursing school and very naïve. No money. No cars. All we had were our suitcases,” she remembers. The Sisters provided safe, low-cost housing in the nursing dorms, and when they learned some of the girls were walking down Lakeland Drive during rush hour to get to happy hour, they stepped in with a solution.
“They loaned us a hospital car that we could sign out, document miles and then return filled with gas,” Deborah remembers.
Why St. Dominic Health Is Special
For Deborah, the spirit of service has always set St. Dominic’s apart. She points to Sister Trinita Eddington, who once served as director of nursing, as an inspiration.
“She went back to school to be a nurse practitioner downtown, where she could serve the poor. Now that is commitment to serve the Lord and a heart full of compassion!”
Nursing from the Heart
Deborah says her favorite part of her work is simple: giving TLC to patients. “I love to make the patient feel cared for as a person and not just a number,” she explains.
She credits her mother, also a nurse, as her greatest mentor. They were able to work together one summer when Deborah was a student nurse.
“She was filled with compassion and treated each patient like a loved family member. Her hugs, warm smile, and going above and beyond to make her patients comfortable is something that stuck with me.”
A Lifetime of Change and a Bright Future
Over 45 years, Deborah has witnessed remarkable changes in healthcare and in the hospital itself. From starched white uniforms and nursing caps to black scrubs, from limited monitoring to telemetry hospital-wide, and from a single security officer to a robust 24/7 team, she has seen it all.
“My one year has turned into 45 years,” Deborah reflects. “This is my home now.”
Outside of work, Deborah is active in her church, treasures time with her two children and their families, and looks forward to traveling with friends starting with Banff, Canada. She’s also excited to learn new skills like chess and Mahjong.
“I feel blessed to be able to work at St. Dominic’s and to treat it as a ministry,” she says.
