About Us

Dr. Anna Ells

Dr. Anna Ells

Dr. Anna Ells joined the Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine in 2000 and currently holds the position of Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, as well as Adjunct Professor, Schulich School of Engineering's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Ells earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University in Ontario, followed by her Doctorate in Medicine (MD) at the University of Ottawa. After receiving her MD, Dr. Ells completed the Medical Officer's Training Program (MOTP) followed by 3 years of military service, providing medical service in the Canadian Air Force. She received her ophthalmology residency training at the University of Ottawa and specialized fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology at The Hospital for Sick Children, and in Medical Retina at the University of Calgary.

In addition to her busy practice and surgical schedule, Dr. Ells is an active and accomplished researcher, lecturer, and teacher. Her contributions to the ophthalmic literature have been extensive, authoring numerous peer-reviewed papers, textbook chapters, original articles, and scientific presentations.

She is currently the principal investigator of several ongoing clinical trials and other research projects. She lectures worldwide, most frequently as a highly acknowledged expert in Retinopathy of Prematurity. Dr. Ells was recognized for her work by an Achievement Award, presented by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2010.

Dr. Ells is a valued educator among residents, fellows and research students, but also to physicians, surgeons and health care providers from around the world. She has been an invited instructor at Oxford University and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a visiting international professor in Guadalajara, Mexico, and provided instruction and symposiums in Shanghai and Beijing, China, Santiago, Chile and Bangalore India. She also holds teaching workshops for physicians and nurses of Central and Latin and America.

For her expertise in Ophthalmology, Dr. Ells is a highly sought-after consultant by various organizations, such as the Canadian Ophthalmologic Society in the development of clinical practice guidelines, Co-chair of the Childhood Blindness Subcommittee of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in Latin America and a member of the scientific committee for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

She is a frequently invited reviewer for ophthalmic journals such as Ophthalmology, Journal of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Retina, Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and Archives of Ophthalmology.

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