Dr. Mike Russell, an orthopaedic surgeon and ortho-oncology fellow at UCLA, is passionate about improving global health through his work, and is currently training and serving patients at LuskinOIC. With six years of orthopaedic training, including a residency at the University of Iowa, Dr. Russell is committed to addressing healthcare disparities. His motivation stems from a transformative visit to Haiti post-earthquake where he witnessed the severe lack of orthopaedic care available to those in need. This experience highlighted the urgent need for high-quality surgical care in remote and under-resourced regions, solidifying his dedication to the field.

Dr. Russell’s next venture involves moving to Malawi, Africa, to join Cure International, a faith-based organization dedicated to rectifying healthcare injustices in the developing world, particularly in orthopaedics. In Malawi, he will focus on neglected trauma and congenital deformities, working primarily with children who lack access to surgical care. Dr. Russell plans to eventually establish a pediatric ortho-oncology practice and aims to move beyond the current standard of amputation due to the lack of prosthetic devices, and instead, build a limb-salvage practice to significantly improve patients’ quality of life.

Throughout his career, Dr. Russell has been influenced by the mentorship of Dr. Bernthal at LuskinOIC, where the commitment to providing high-quality care to under-resourced populations in Los Angeles has inspired him. His experiences with patients suffering from severe conditions without access to proper care have driven his mission. As he prepares for this new chapter, Dr. Russell emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s passions, despite challenges, and he is eager to contribute to lasting change in global healthcare through his work with Cure International and continued partnerships with institutions like LuskinOIC and UCLA.