Dr. Linda Russell, MD

Dr. Linda Russell was born in West Islip, NY, and raised on Long Island. She received her Bachelors of Science degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1985, from Tufts University. She received her MD degree, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha in 1989, from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. Her one-year internship and her two-year residency in internal medicine were both completed at New York Hospital (1989-92). She then went to Hospital for Special Surgery for her Fellowship in Rheumatology (1992-95). Following her fellowship she joined HSS as an attending physician, where she has continued to practice medicine. Dr. Russell has had a long-standing interest in metabolic bone disease and osteoporosis. She served as the Director of the Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Health Center from 2006 to 2024. In addition to the evaluation and care of patients with metabolic bone disease, she has focused her attention on perioperative bone health. Currently, Dr. Russell is the Co-Primary …Investigator for an American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis. In 2011, Dr. Russell was named the Director of Perioperative Medicine at HSS. Perioperative medicine is a field of medicine that focuses on optimizing the health of patients who plan to undergo surgery and on providing medical care for those patients following surgery. As the Director of Perioperative Medicine, Dr. Russell leads a team of nine full-time internists and 11 hospitalists who deliver perioperative medical care to patients undergoing surgical procedures at HSS. She also coordinates with a group of seven rheumatologists who provide additional perioperative consultation. These perioperative physicians are well acquainted with their patients� needs before, during and after surgery, thus providing the exceptional care that HSS is known for. She also is working with a team of physicians to create a manuscript for the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) that outlines the perioperative management of patients with Rheumatologic and HIV diseases. Dr. Russell was recognized in 2020 by the United Hospital Fund during their Tribute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Ceremony for her passionate advocacy to promote osteoporosis and metabolic bone health as well as leading efforts to develop preoperative weight loss, diabetes management, and smoking cessation programs at HSS. Dr. Russell received 'The Wholeness of Life Award' from the Healthcare Chaplaincy in 2005. She holds the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Chair in Perioperative Medicine.