A recognizable face in the physiotherapy community, Russ brings more than 40 years of sports medicine and rehabilitation experience to our team. He has a wealth of clinical and educational experience in caring for musculoskeletal injuries – particularly conditions of the foot and ankle. He has a passionate commitment to helping patients “make themselves better” and is dedicated to bringing leading-edge, evidence-based orthopaedic and sports medicine treatment options to both patients and professionals.
Russ was one of the founding partners and clinic co-directors of the Sports Physiotherapy Centre at the Pan Am Clinic. Today, when not treating patients at Pure, he serves as an instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Russ believes strongly in the importance of continuing education and provides educational opportunities to fellow therapists through professional development events, conferences and workshops.
Russ greatly values giving back to the amateur sports community and has spent his life volunteering at local, provincial, national and international levels. (He can’t forget high school sports, junior football and hockey and university athletics – the places he planted his volunteering roots!) Lifetime highlights include being part of the Canadian Medical Team for three Olympic Games and numerous Pan American and World University Games. Russ served as Medical Services Coordinator for many local international-scale events like the ’99 Pan Am Games, ’99 World Junior Hockey Championships, Briers and World Curling Championships, Manitoba Marathons and PGA Tour Canada Players Cup.
In addition to his volunteerism, Russ has been involved in professional sports – first as an assistant trainer for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and later as head trainer for the Winnipeg Jets. He is presently the Physiotherapy Consultant for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club.
Russ actively gives back to his profession. He has sat on various physiotherapy and sports medicine related committees and boards locally, provincially and nationally. He is also the Past President of the Sports Medicine Council of Manitoba. Russ presently sits on the Sport Manitoba Concussion Steering Committee. Russ is a mentor and national examiner in the Education Committee of the Sport Physiotherapy Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
For his lifelong commitment to the profession, Russ was recognized by the Manitoba Physiotherapy Association by being awarded the Susan A. Macdonald Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding contributions, perpetuating excellence and positively influencing others towards higher levels of achievement in the physiotherapy profession. He was also awarded the Sport Physiotherapy Canada – Manitoba Membership Award that acknowledges contributions to the Sport Physiotherapy Community. Similarly, Russ received the Manitoba Athletic Therapy Association – Chuck Badcock Special Recognition Award in for outstanding contribution to the profession of Athletic Therapy.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to be part of the dynamic team at Pure Lifestyle. Their mission to provide thorough and evidence-based care through quality assessments and treatments and ongoing training and education completely matches my lifelong philosophy. My hope is to complement their team with my experience and passion.”