Future Healers

Drs. Nadarajah & Arulnayagi "Arul" Balasubramaniam "Bala"

Dr. N. Bala and his late wife, Arul, dedicated their lives to medicine as Pathologists and to safeguarding the well-being of the community. Their decades of care and genuine compassion have left an imprint on Ellis that will impact generations to come. Dr. Bala’s extraordinary generosity, rooted in practicality, vision and smart planning, was enhanced with a gift of life insurance to The Foundation. Recognizing that the life insurance policy he once purchased to protect his young family was no longer necessary—as his sons are now grown and thriving in their perspective fields—he chose to gift its ownership to The Foundation for Ellis Medicine. This thoughtful act  transforms what was once meant for personal security into a promise of security for an entire community. It is a gift that will never expire—a perpetual source of strength and stability for Ellis, ensuring that compassionate, high quality care will always be within reach. 

Supporting Youth in Crisis

The Family Room: A Walk-in Mental Health Urgent Care

Childhood and adolescence are critical times for developing the social and emotional skills that support lifelong mental well-being. Philanthropic investments to establish  the Family Room have yielded long-term results. The Family Room offers a safe, welcoming, and comfortable space for youth in crisis—providing an alternative to the Emergency Department. Our trained staff support youth ages 4½ to 18 experiencing overwhelming emotions, social isolation, school-related challenges, risk-taking behaviors, and other mental and behavioral health concerns. We work closely with both youth and their families to identify and stabilize immediate needs and connect them with ongoing care, resources, and support. A gift from The Schenectady Foundation is helping to keep the doors open, expand program offerings, and connect families to vital resources in the community.

Funding Education

Investing in the People Who Care for Our Community

Ellis Promise is our commitment to invest in our people — strengthening our workforce, supporting career growth, and building pathways into meaningful healthcare careers for both our colleagues. Through scholarships, tuition assistance, and other educational support, Ellis employees are growing their skills, reaching new goals, and building lasting careers.

Learn more at: Careers at Ellis,  Ellis Belanger School of Nursing, and Ellis Promise. 

Cancer Care

Community Support Advances Ellis' Cancer Program

Thanks to the generosity of Nan and Hugh Murphy and donors across our community, Ellis Medicine is bringing new hope to patients facing lung cancer.

Philanthropic investments in advanced Ion^tm  and imaging technology provides real-time imaging that enables Ellis physicians to perform complex minimally invasive procedures with exceptional precision. In pulmonary care, this means safer, more accurate biopsies and earlier detection, critical to diagnosing and treating lung disease—including cancer. For those we serve, it means quicker answers, safer care, and a clearer path forward when it matters most.

This investment also strengthens Ellis Medicine’s comprehensive oncology program, including its collaboration with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Together, these advancements are expanding access to leading-edge care, right here in our community.

Midwifery Practice

Maternal Health Expansion at Bellevue Woman’s Center

Ellis Foundation has been awarded an $800,000 grant from The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to support the expansion of maternal health services at Bellevue Woman’s Center. 

Ellis now has the opportunity to strengthen care for families by creating a more connected model that ensures women receive comprehensive gynecologic and prenatal care, with seamless support from pregnancy through postpartum. As the number of community Ob/Gyn providers declines, many patients face challenges accessing consistent care. Establishing a midwifery practice is an important step in meeting this growing need in our region.