Her dad, Dr. Benjamin Kam, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy who went on to earn his medical degree and a master’s in public health before serving for more than 23 years around the world in the Air Force as a combat flight surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon. Kam now cares for patients at UCHealth Orthopedics Clinic-Park West in Pueblo.
Ellie’s mom, Mako Kam, is from Japan. A decision to come to Colorado as an exchange student set her on a path to meet her future husband.
While Benjamin Kam was a cadet at the Air Force Academy in the early 1990s, Mako was a student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, studying applied math.
Friends wanted to set the two up. Mako was best friends with a captain’s wife from the Academy. Mako first had come to Colorado Springs as a foreign exchange student in high school. She always loved fitness and was a runner. She’s from the region of Japan near Colorado Springs’ sister city, Fujiyoshida. Much like Colorado Springs, which sits at the base of beautiful Pikes Peak, Fujiyoshida lies at the foot of Mount Fuji. After high school, Mako decided to stay in Colorado for college. Benjamin Kam’s ancestors come from both Japan and China. He was born and raised in Hawaii.
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I was in the elevator with Ellie’s parents at 2023 Nationals and was wearing my Tulane hoodie, and it caught his eye right away! They were both so friendly.
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