Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has expanded its surgical team with the addition of Dr. Christopher Ellington, a thoracic surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted procedures.

According to a news release, Ellington joins the hospital's Cancer Center, bringing experience in advanced robotic technologies, including the Da Vinci Surgical Robot and Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system, which are used in lung cancer treatment.

A thoracic surgeon specializes in conditions affecting the heart, lungs, esophagus and other related organs. Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers in the United States, making thoracic specialists critical in patient care.

Ellington arrives in Pensacola from North Georgia, where he served as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Piedmont Augusta since 2019. His career also includes roles in cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery at medical facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky.

"I am delighted to be at such a renowned facility and I am excited to work alongside such a passionate group of professionals," Dr. Ellington said in the release. "I am confident the work we will do here will improve the lives of those in our community."

Ellington completed his undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University and earned his medical degree at Flinders University of South Australia. His training includes a surgical internship at the University of North Dakota, a general surgery residency at Saint Louis University and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The Sacred Heart Cancer Center provides comprehensive cancer care with a team of medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons and other specialists. The facility offers advanced diagnostic tools, including 3D mammograms, breast MRIs and low-dose CT lung scans.

For more information about the Sacred Heart Cancer Center, visit https://healthcare.ascension.org/locations/florida/flpen/pensacola-ascension-sacred-heart-cancer-center.