From the front lines of emergency medicine to the policy halls of public health, Ellen R. Murray-Travis, PhD, has built a career defined by resilience, expertise and a deep commitment to serving marginalized populations. Her professional journey weaves through trauma bays, correctional institutions and academic settings, where she has championed quality care, disease prevention and equitable access. A nationally recognized nurse consultant and public health educator, she has contributed meaningfully to the fields of infectious disease management and correctional health through both practice and leadership.
Dr. Murray-Travis earned a Doctor of Philosophy in public health with a minor in community health education and corrections from Walden University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Jacksonville University, an Associate of Arts from Saint Leo University and an Associate of Science in nursing from Broward College. Her earliest credential in nursing was earned from Windham Community Technical School. These academic experiences have been instrumental in shaping her approach to education, mentorship and health system reform. Certified in advanced cardiac life support, trauma life support and hazardous materials instruction, she has merged technical training with a people-first mindset throughout her career.
Building on this early clinical foundation, Dr. Murray-Travis began as an emergency medical technician-paramedic and licensed practical nurse, later working as a trauma nurse, charge nurse and flight nurse. These early positions laid the foundation for a series of increasingly complex roles, including director of nursing at Pembroke Pines Hospital and EMSA Correctional Care. Her administrative and clinical leadership in correctional settings deepened during her tenure with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where she oversaw inmate health care services.
Dr. Murray-Travis joined the Florida Department of Health as a registered nursing consultant focused on corrections, eventually expanding her impact through consulting roles with the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center and the University of California San Francisco. At the University of Florida, she was a research nurse specialist and COVID-19 team consultant. Her work has included the development of statewide quality improvement protocols, infection control strategies for correctional populations and the facilitation of addiction recovery and reentry programs. She has also led training projects, served as a research coordinator and presented nationally on the role of corrections in public health.
Dr. Murray-Travis is a founder and former committee chair of the NTCA/NTNC Corrections Committee, past president of the National Tuberculosis Nurse Coalition and co-founder of the Florida Corrections Tuberculosis Program. She has been recognized with the Carol Pozsik Tuberculosis Nursing Award, a leadership award from the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and multiple commendations from state and national health agencies. Her written contributions include “Raising the Awareness – Educating the Incarcerated Population about TB: A Nurse’s Perspective” and chapters in “TB Nursing: A Comprehensive Guide to Patient Care.”
Beyond Dr. Murray-Travis’ professional commitments, she has served as a missionary with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a nurse consultant with Health Through Walls. Looking ahead, she continues to advocate for corrections as a vital part of public safety and public health. Her life’s work remains guided by a desire to turn questions into answers and challenges into tools for collective progress.