Our Story

I am board certified in pediatric and adult allergy and clinical immunology, having completed my degree at University of Michigan in 1992. I joined Grand Rapids Allergy (which was started by my father, Dr. Leonard Gell, in 1972) and primary interests are allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, atopic eczema, urticaria (hives), insect hypersensitivity and sinusitis with many highly effective treatment options. One of the most gratifying parts of being an allergist is improving symptoms which help patients of all ages have healthy and active lifestyles. Aerobiology has been an ongoing interest of mine, noting that our office was a certified pollen and mold counting station which was useful during my internship and residency at Corewell (Spectrum Butterworth) Hospital, and led to best clinical study award.

As a lifelong Michigan resident, I attended Forest Hills Central High School followed by Albion College, as did my husband Doug Ellinger M.D., a radiologist. We enjoy hobbies of biking, gardening, skiing, birding, fishing and anything outdoors, especially when joined by our adult children Elizabeth and Peter.

Following in my father’s footsteps as a military physician, I became a double board-certified physician in Allergy/Immunology and Pediatrics. I served 17 years in active-duty military medicine, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, before joining Grand Rapids Allergy in 2001. I bring to my patients a deep sense of service, clinical excellence, and genuine compassion for both adults and children.

I have been consistently recognized as one of the top allergists in the community and am known for being a warm, caring physician and an excellent listener. I teach medical students and residents and have published and presented nationally. I earned my medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, completed my residency at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, and my fellowship at Wilford Hall Medical Center. My areas of interest include environmental allergies, asthma, chronic cough, sinus disease, eczema, and hives.

Outside of medicine, I am grateful for the life I shared with my late husband, cardiologist Brian Schafer, MD, and treasure my faith, my four adult children, their families, and my nine grandchildren.

I am a native of Grand Rapids and graduated from Calvin College. I received my Medical Degree from Wayne State University and my degree in Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. There I trained with some of the nation’s leading asthma and allergy specialists. I have presented my research nationally and published my fellowship research on pediatric asthma. I am board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and the American Board of Pediatrics. I enjoy treating patients of all ages in the diagnosis and management of allergic respiratory disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis/otitis), food allergy and intolerance, atopic eczema, stinging insect allergy, and chronic hives. I also specialize in aspirin desensitization.

I love to teach and have a strong interest in community education. I’ve participated in asthma screenings, allergy preparedness for schools, and community presentations on allergic disease. I am an advocate for education and routinely provide lectures for local physician groups and hospitals. As a Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, I help educate medical and nursing students and medical residents. I also enjoy providing updates on allergy for local television and radio.

In our free time, my family and I enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, hiking and swimming. Our three children keep us busy with multiple sports, church and school activities. We look forward to exploring new regions of our country on family vacations to caves, mountains, canyons and anywhere the map leads us. I also enjoy photography, gardening, reading and playing with our rambunctious pets.

I am a Michigan native and earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at Michigan State University. Upon graduation, I served as a nurse in the US Navy. After leaving the military, I worked for many years in the emergency department in Norfolk, Virginia. I completed my Master of Science in Nursing at Old Dominion University and worked for several years in family practice and urgent care in Virginia and in Michigan prior to joining the team at Grand Rapids Allergy in 2011. I enjoy keeping up with the constant advancements in our allergy/asthma field and working alongside wonderful colleagues to provide the best care possible for our patients. My husband and I have 2 daughters and many family pets. In my spare time, I like to run, read, and I volunteer at a feline rescue.

I have been a part of the Grand Rapids Allergy family since 2010. I got my Bachelor of Nursing degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and a master’s in nursing practice from Walden University. I moved into a provider role in 2014 and have had the advantage of 11+ years of close apprenticeship with our board-certified allergy team. I am a native of Grand Rapids and love all the things that Michigan has to offer. As a mom I appreciate how the difficulties of having children with allergies, food allergies, asthma or eczema can impact the quality of life of the family and bring this perspective to my care plans.

I am a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a clinical focus in allergy and asthma. A Holland, Michigan native, I earned my BSN from Hope College and began my career in the ICU at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago before completing my MSN at the University of Maryland. After practicing in the Maryland/Pennsylvania area, I joined Grand Rapids Allergy in 2017. I enjoy working closely with patients and families to educate, explore treatment options, and support long-term management. I am passionate about ongoing learning and advances in allergy care.

Grand Rapids has been home for the past 20 years, where I live with my husband, Chris VanDeven, DDS, and our four children — we love traveling, being outdoors, and staying active.