Summit foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon Samuel Russ, M.D., helps people get back on their feet so they can enjoy their lives.
Dr. Samuel Russ is a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon dedicated to helping people maintain and restore their mobility. His interest in developing a surgical specialty started from his first days of anatomy class in medical school. But it wasn’t until he traveled to Honduras with a group of doctors that he decided that orthopedics was the way to go. “Seeing the doctors work with orthopedic patients in Honduras, and watching them take people who were disabled by their injuries and getting them back on their feet, back to work, back to life — I really connected with that,” Dr. Russ said.
Dr. Russ’s background
“What I really enjoy about orthopedic surgery is getting people back on their feet — getting them active and back to living their lives, whether that is a walk around the block or professional athletic competitions,” he said.
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree, Dr. Russ earned his medical degree and completed residency training at the University of Minnesota. He went on to pursue a fellowship in foot and ankle orthopedic surgery at St. Mary’s Orthopedics in Portland, Maine.
Dr. Russ’s approach to care
Even though he is a foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Russ takes a conservative, nonoperative approach when he begins working with patients. “I try all the things to help people live functional, pain-free lives without surgery first. Then, if we determine that the individual needs surgery, I work with patients to figure out what they need, so that I am not doing too much or too little. I work to individualize the surgical treatment plan for them,” Dr. Russ said.
Key to his approach is his dedication to listening to the patients and empathizing with them. “I try to treat each patient like a family member. I focus on listening to them and their concerns, figuring out what their injury is preventing them from doing, and getting them back to it,” Dr Russ said. Listening is the foundation of his ability to individualize care for each patient.
Dr. Russ’s hobbies
Outside of the office, Dr. Russ keeps busy with his young children and enjoys spending time with family. You’ll often find him hiking and biking on a weekend, unless it’s a Saturday afternoon in the fall. In that case, you’ll find him following Notre Dame football. He and his wife are also talented swing and ballroom dancers and enjoy their shared hobby.
Summit Orthopedics offers personalized foot and ankle expertise
Our fellowship-trained foot and ankle physicians, like Dr. Russ, understand that your mobility depends on the health of your feet and ankles. Summit Orthopedics specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely get you back on your feet and on your way.
Start your journey to optimal foot health. Find your foot and ankle expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.
More resources for you:
- Take a look at Summit’s foot and ankle services.