CURRICULUM VITAE
Ciani M. Ellison MD
Ciani M. Ellison MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology
Department of Radiation Oncology
OFFICE ADDRESS: |
9200 West Wisconsin Avenue |
Milwaukee, WI 53226 |
EDUCATION: |
- 05/2014 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO |
- 05/2018 Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS: |
07/2018 - 06/2023 Residency Training, Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
MILITARY SERVICE: |
06/24/2010 - 08/01/2014 U.S. Air Force |
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS: |
07/2023 - 05/2024 Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, Little Rock, AR |
07/2024 - Present Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
03/2026 - Present Director, Undergraduate Medical Education, Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin |
HOSPITAL STAFF PRIVILEGES: |
07/2024 - Present Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
07/2024 - Present Froedtert West Bend Hospital, West Bend, WI |
07/2024 - Present Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
07/2024 - Present Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, Menomonee Falls, WI |
06/28/2026 - Present Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans' Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI |
SPECIALTY BOARDS AND CERTIFICATION: |
Licensure | Number | Issue Date | Expiration |
WI State Medical License | 74339 - 20 | 10/30/2020 | 10/31/2027 |
AR State Medical License | E-16549 | 04/14/2023 | 05/31/2028 |
AWARDS AND HONORS: |
2011 Top Student in U.S. Air Force Academy Biology Coursework |
2012 Outstanding Cadet of the Quarter, 98FTS, Wings of Blue Parachute Team |
2012 Top Student in U.S. Air Force Academy Biology Coursework |
2013 Cadet Summer Research Scholarship Recipient |
2014 U.S. Air Force Academy Distinguished Graduate , Civilian university Magna Cum Laude equivalent |
2014 Top Student in U.S. Air Force Academy Biology Coursework |
2014 U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent’s List 8/8 Semesters, Top 10% of class for overall GPA, physical fitness, and military performance |
2015 Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Surgery Travel Award |
2018 The Maurice Greenberg Memorial Award, Award given to medical student with most promise in clinical oncology, exemplary patient care, compassion, and dedication to research |
06/2023 Dr. J. Frank Wilson Resident Research Award |
MEMBERSHIPS IN HONORARY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: |
2014 - 2018 American Medical Student Association |
2014 - Present American Medical Women’s Association |
2014 - 2018 American Medical Student Association |
2014 - Present American Medical Association |
2015 - Present American College of Physicians |
2018 - Present American Society for Radiation Oncology |
2021 - Present International Association for Study of Lung Cancer |
EDITORSHIPS/EDITORIAL BOARDS/JOURNAL REVIEWS: |
Journal Review |
03/2023 Sarcoma- Palliative SBRT and Concurrent Targeted Therapy for Lung Metastases in Pediatric Sarcoma |
05/2023 BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders- Factors Associated with Physical Function in Patients after Surgery for Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Thigh Region |
01/2024 Advances in Radiation Oncology- Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radiation Therapy in Locally Non-Metastatic Cervical Cancer |
LOCAL/REGIONAL APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
2014 - 2016 Co-President (2015-2016): Led the organization in multiple events designed to promote women in the medical profession and provide networking opportunities; including “Women in Surgery Social Hour”, “Ms. Medical Mastermind”, and pairing M1 students with female faculty advisors, MCW American Medical Women’s Association |
2014 - 2016 Member and Mentor: Mentor M1 and M2 medical students concerning the military match process. Participate in the annual “Warrior Partnership” where military members and medical professionals meet to share experiences and find commonalities in their mission, MCW Military Medical Student Association |
2014 - 2016 Co-President (2015-2016): Coordinated and scheduled intramural games for 6 different sports for over 300 student participants to foster student wellness and camaraderie, MCW Intramural Sports |
2015 - 2016 Council of Presidents Representative: Served as a liaison between the Council of Presidents and the Student Assembly to ensure that the goals of the individual student organizations were heard, MCW Student Assembly |
2015 - 2016 Student Organization Co-President Representative: Discussed and solved issues pertaining to student organizations and facilitated communication between individual organization presidents and the Student Assembly, MCW Council of Presidents |
2016 - 2017 Facilitator, M3 Small Group Leader: Lead and facilitated monthly discussion sessions with M2 students participating in the physician scientist pathway and discuss project hypotheses and assess individual project progress, MCW Physician Scientist Clinical and Translational Research Pathway |
08/2021 Resident Panel Member Participant: Participated as a panel member to discuss a career in radiation oncology with the MCW Oncology Interest Group, MCW Radiation Oncology Residency Medical Student Outreach |
07/01/2024 - Present Member, Education Committee, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin; Department of Radiation Oncology |
01/2025 - Present Member, RO cardiac VT working group meeting, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin |
Resident Physician Member: Participated in monthly meetings that reviewed prior health/safety events and sought to formulate solutions. Also expected to lead own departmental quality improvement project, MCWAH Health and House staff Quality and Safety Committee |
RESEARCH GRANTS/AWARDS/CONTRACTS/PROJECTS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
International |
Ellison C, Griffiths C, Thompson J, Arapi I, Martens M, Gore E, Poster Presentation: Immunotherapy Toxicity in Lung Cancer & The Impact of Thoracic Radiation Therapy, 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer, 2021 |
Ellison C; Firat S, Neuroblastoma - A Radiation Oncology Perspective, International Neuroblastoma Pathology Symposium, Milwaukee, WI, 05/20/2026 |
National |
Ellison C, Ristow J, Mickschl D, Grindel S, Poster Presentation: Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Humeral Head Avascular Necrosis, American Medical Student Association’s 21st Annual Project, Research, and Experience Exhibition, Washington D.C., 04/2016 |
American Medical Student Association’s 21st Annual Project, Research, and Experience Exhibition, Washington D.C., 2016 |
Oral Presentation, American Society for Radiation Oncology 59th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 09/2017 |
Ellison C & Lyndon, S, Poster Presentation: An Unusual Case of Serotonin Syndrome from Topical Amitriptyline, APM's 2017 Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA, 11/2017 |
Ellison C, Johnstone C, King D, Bedi M, Oral Presentation: Pre-Operative Radiation Performed at a Non-Sarcoma Center May Lead to Increased Wound Complications Following Resection in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas, ASTRO’s 59th Annual Meeting, 2017 |
Bedi M, Charlson J, Ellison C, Johnstone C, Turaga K, Abstract Presentation: The Impact of Increasing Time to Pre-Operative Radiation on Outcomes in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas, ASTRO’s 59th Annual Meeting, 2017 |
Virtual Event for Poster Presentation, 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer, 09/2021 |
Ellison C, Brookes C, Charugundla P, Firat S, Martinson M, Montenero D, Shukla M, Schultz C, Awan, Poster Presentation: Dental Education for Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiation Therapy, AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference, 2023 |
Ellison C, Proton Beam Therapy: What's All the Fuss About, Annual Musculoskeletal Oncology & Sarcoma Symposium, Miami, FL, 01/23/2024 |
Ellison C, Moderator and Presenter on “Pediatric Sarcomas In Adults” Panel, Advances in Musculoskeletal Oncology and Sarcoma Symposium, Miami, FL, 01/2024 |
Ellison C, Managing 'Oops' Resection in Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Annual Musculoskeletal Oncology & Sarcoma Symposium, Miami, FL, 01/23/2025 |
Local |
Ellison C, Maresh R, Poster Presentation: Effect of Diminished PRR15 Expression on Selected Genes, Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum, Colorado Springs, CO, 04/2013 |
Ellison C, Ristow J, Mickschl D, Grindel S, Poster Presentation: Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Humeral Head Avascular Necrosis, Medical College of Wisconsin Medical Student Summer Research Program Research Day, Milwaukee, WI, 10/2015 |
Proton Therapy, Milwaukee Academy of Surgery, Milwaukee, WI, 09/23/2024 |
Leadership Pipeline Institute Program: Knowledge Leader Pilot Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, 04/07/2026 - 04/09/2026 |
Ellison C, Dunn B, Schuman O, Oral Presentation: USAFA Vector-Borne Disease Analysis, USAFA Cadet Summer Research Symposium |
MCW TEACHING ACTIVITIES: |
Medical Student Education |
04/08/2026 Facilitator for the MCWfusion IPEP Thread IPEssentials workshop. |
Resident and Fellow Education |
04/10/2025 Radiation Oncology Emergencies lecture presented to Internal Medicine Senior Residents during their Friday Palliative Lecture Series |
08/20/2025 Introduction to Radiation Oncology: Lecture presented to Internal Medicine Residents |
04/10/2026 Palliative Fellow Lecture |
04/10/2026 "From Symptoms to Solutions: The Role of Palliative Radiation" lecture given to Palliative Care Fellows |
EXTRAMURAL TEACHING: |
Medical Student Education |
2018 - Present MCW Radiation Therapy Student Instructor, Resident Physician, Instructor: Multiple times per year, I put together and deliver various lectures to the radiation therapy students as part of their teaching curriculum to help them better understand oncologic principles, radiation set-up techniques, and skin toxicity |
01/29/2025 Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, RTT Student Lecture - CNS/Retinoblastoma |
02/05/2025 Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, RTT Student Lecture - Rhabdomyosarcoma |
02/19/2025 Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, RTT Student Lecture - Wilm's Tumor/Ewing's |
01/30/2026 Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconin, RTT Student Lecture - Rhabdomyosarcoma |
02/02/2026 Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, RTT Student Lecture - CNS/Retinoblastoma |
02/09/2026 Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, RTT Student Lecture - Wilm's/Ewings Sarcoma |
Continuing Medical Education |
02/13/2026 Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, Osteoarthritis lecture given to Radiation Oncology Department clinic staff on behalf of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) |
MCW STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
High School Students |
07/01/2025 - 07/31/2025 Maadhav Karun, Apprenticeship in Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Oral case presentation on Glioblastoma. |
06/30/2026 - 07/30/2026 Ella Diefenbach, Apprenticeship in Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin |
Medical Students |
09/20/2024 - Present Dianna Liakos, Career Development and Rearch, Medical College of Wisconsin, MSSRP 2025 Scholarship recipient and poster presentation, 2026 Reign in Sarcoma Research Symposium, 2026 ASTRO Annual Meeting - "Impact of Radiation Therapy on Inguinal Soft Tissue Sarcomas Across Resection Types" |
05/11/2026 - Present Sagar Matharu, Career Development and Research, Medical College of Wisconsin |
Residents |
07/01/2022 - 06/30/2026 Yulia Romalis, Direct Membership of Resident, Medical College of Wisconsin, Successfully completed Radiation Oncology Residency Program. ACRO Scholarship Committee Chair. |
EXTRAMURAL STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS, AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
Undergraduate Students |
02/01/2026 - Present Jonathan Rosse, Early Career Planning, University of Notre Dame/Medical College of Wisconsin |
PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENTS: |
Clinical Programs |
2025 - Present Proton Working Group to pioneer Prospective Proton Rounds and to develop and optimize treatment of pediatric patients with the Pediatric Working Group |
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES: |
2015 - 2016 MCW Repairers of the Breach Outreach Clinic-
Outreach Coordinator: Coordinated student volunteers and served as a student physician to provide free healthcare to an underserved population in Milwaukee. |
2015 Habitat for Humanity-
MCW Student Group Leader: Led a group of MCW students to Miami, Florida to build houses for homeless families with Habitat for Humanity.
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2016 - 2017 MCW USMLE Step 1 Preparation Program-Volunteer Tutor: Prepared and led bimonthly tutoring sessions for 2nd year students. |
2019 - 2022 Stronger than Sarcoma- Resident Physician, Volunteer: The Stronger than Sarcoma Foundation puts on an annual soiree, functioning as the foundation's large fundraising event for which I participated in fundraising, meetings, and day of events. The 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19. |
11/07/2025 2025 Stronger than Sarcoma Soiree Planning Committee Chair.
Planned and successfully executed this year's event at the Pilot Project Brewery. Coordinated and organized both the silent and live auction that raised $162,000 towards sarcoma research. |
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers |
1. Ellison C, Lyndon S. Staying Topical: An Unusual Case of Serotonin Syndrome. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017 Oct;37(5):633-635. |
2. Ristow JJ, ELLISON CM, Mickschl DJ, Berg KC, Haidet KC, Gray JR, Grindel SI. Outcomes of shoulder replacement in humeral head avascular necrosis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2019 Jan;28(1):9-14. |
3. Ellison C, King DM, Neilson JC, Wooldridge A, Charlson JA, Hackbarth DA, Johnstone C, Bedi M. Preoperative Radiation Performed at a Nonsarcoma Center May Lead to Increased Wound Complications Following Resection in Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Am J Clin Oncol. 2021 Dec 01;44(12):619-623. |
4. ELLISON C, Martens M, Argote J, Benz S, Currey A, Johnstone C, Klawikowski S, Livingston K, Longo J, Menon S, Ortiz de Choudens S, Puckett L, Retseck J, Shukla M, Thompson J, Gore E. High-grade Pneumonitis Events in Unresectable, Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiation followed by Adjuvant Durvalumab. Journal Thoracic Oncology Clinical and Research Reports. June 2023 |
5. Ellison C, Martens M, Alvarez Argote J, Benz S, Currey A, Johnstone C, Klawikowski S, Livingston K, Longo JM, Menon S, Ortiz de Choudens S, Puckett L, Retseck J, Shukla M, Thompson J, Gore E. High-Grade Pneumonitis Events in Patients With Unresectable, Locally Advanced NSCLC Treated With Definitive Chemoradiation Followed by Adjuvant Durvalumab. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2024 Dec;5(12):100537. PMCID: PMC11567112 |
Abstracts |
1. Ellison C, Maresh R. Effect of Diminished PRR15 Expression on Selected Genes. Poster Presentation: Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum, Colorado Springs, CO, April 2013 |
2. Ellison C, Dunn B, Schuman O. USAFA Vector-Borne Disease Analysis. Oral Presentation: USAFA Cadet Summer Research Symposium |
3. Ellison C, Ristow J, Mickschl D, Grindel S. Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Humeral Head Avascular Necrosis. Poster Presentation: Medical College of Wisconsin Medical Student Summer Research Program Research Day, Milwaukee, WI, October 2015 |
4. Ellison C, Ristow J, Mickschl D, Grindel S. Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Humeral Head Avascular Necrosis. Poster Presentation: American Medical Student Association’s 21st Annual Project, Research, and Experience Exhibition, Washington D.C, April 2016 |
5. Ellison C, Johnstone C, King D, Bedi M. Pre-Operative Radiation Performed at a Non-Sarcoma Center May Lead to Increased Wound Complications Following Resection in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Accepted to ASTRO’s 59th Annual Meeting 2017 for Oral Presentation and Publication in The International Journal of Radiation Oncology (Red Journal) |
6. Bedi M, Charlson J, Ellison C, Johnstone C, Turaga K. The Impact of Increasing Time to Pre-Operative Radiation on Outcomes in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Accepted to ASTRO’s 59th Annual Meeting 2017 and Publication in The International Journal of Radiation Oncology (Red Journal) |
7. Ellison C & Lyndon, S. An Unusual Case of Serotonin Syndrome from Topical Amitriptyline. Poster to be presented at: APM's 2017 Annual Meeting; Palm Springs, CA, USA. (November 2017) |
8. Ellison C, Griffiths C, Thompson J, Arapi I, Martens M, Gore E. Immunotherapy Toxicity in Lung Cancer & The Impact of Thoracic Radiation Therapy. Accepted in abstract form to 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer & for poster presentation |
9. Ellison C, Brookes C, Charugundla P, Firat S, Martinson M, Montenero D, Shukla M, Schultz C, Awan . Dental Education for Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiation Therapy. Poster Presentation 2023 AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference |
