Physician resigns amid controversy

? A physician at the center of a controversy since his license problems were reported resigned under pressure Wednesday from the Kansas board that regulates doctors.

Dr. Howard Ellis, 52, a cosmetic surgeon from Leawood, declined to comment when contacted by telephone and said a statement would be issued later.

Last month, Ellis was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts despite having earlier been accused by officials in Missouri of trying to convince another doctor to alter records and submitting erroneous medical records to investigators in another case.

Ellis had retired his Missouri medical license rather than face a disciplinary hearing. He admitted no wrongdoing.

When news reports about Ellis’ troubles in Missouri surfaced, Sebelius said she had not been aware of the problems and said she would review his records.

On Wednesday, the governor’s office said that Sebelius asked Ellis to resign from the Healing Arts Board and he did.

“He has agreed to resign and is no longer serving on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts,” according to a statement from Sebelius’ office.

Ellis has ties to Lawrence. He owns the building rented by Lawrence Memorial Hospital South at 3500 Clinton Place. But hospital officials said Ellis had no privileges to practice at the hospital. Ellis had served three terms on the board and was its president from 1996-97 and 2002-03.

The board licenses health care professionals, enforces state regulations of their practices and investigates allegations of malpractice or misconduct.