R. Harris Russo was born in 1944 and raised in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Science and Russian. In 1965 he attended the University of Iowa College of Medicine, graduating in 1970. He spent an extra year in medical school as a teaching assistant in the Department of Neuroanatomy.

Over the next 6 years he was an intern in general surgery and a resident in neurological surgery, finishing his residency in 1976 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served on the faculty from 1976 to 1978, both as a Fellow with a rank of Associate Professor of Neurosurgery. He was a consultant in Neurosurgery at the Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital, the Mott Children's Hospital and attending surgeon at the University Hospital. He is the author of many papers on Neurosurgery. He came to Kalamazoo in 1978 in the private practice of Neurosurgery. He was Board Certified in Neurosurgery in 1983, and inducted into the American College of Surgeons as a Fellow in 1984. He has done training at Toronto Sick Children's Hospital, University of Florida, in microsurgery, and in advance pituitary surgery at Yale University.

He currently is a Professor of Surgery with Michigan State University, and is actively involved in teaching interns, residents, and other health science students both at Bronson Hospital, Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center.

His wife, Janice of 30 years, is a mathematics teacher, and he is the father of 6 children. He is a former concert pianist, instrument and commercial jet pilot, railroad historian, model railroader, and amateur radio operator.

Medical Education:
University of Iowa - College of Medicine
M.D. 1970

Residencies:
Neurosurgery Resident
University of Michigan, 1971 - 1976

Medical Licensure:
Iowa
Michigan

Board Certifications:
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American Board of Neurological Surgery - Diplomat

Honors and Awards:
Phi Beta Sigma, Honorary Scholastic Fraternity, Undergraduate, University of Iowa
J.P. Leinfelder Award in Medicine, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, 1968
AOA, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, 1969
First Prize, Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital, Research Award, 1967
SMAHEC First Prize - Research Day, 1985
Continuing Education Award - American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 1989-1991

Memberships and Offices in Professional Societies:
AOA
Phi Beta Pi Medical Fraternity
Society of Neuroscience, 1974
Fellow American College of Surgeons
Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons
Society of Neuro-Trauma and Neuro-Anesthesia
New York Academy of Sciences
Phi Eta Sigma Scholastic Honorary Fraternity
Member - subsections of Trauma and Spine - American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Hospital and Medical School Committees:
Michigan Medical Practice Board on Continuing Education, 1976
Medical Care Quality Assurance Committee, 1976
Member of Executive Faculty Committee
Neural and Behavioral Science Faculty member
Chairman, "Spine and Spinal Cord" - Neurosurgery Postgraduate Course, March 30-31, 1978
Supervisor 3rd and 4th year medical students in Neurosurgery 1976, 1977
Director Neurology - Neurosurgery Program Bronson Methodist Hospital, 1978
Instructor in Pediatric and Surgery Residency Program - Bronson Methodist Hospital
Faculty Member - Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center

 

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