Katie R. Russell, ARNP

What drew you to a career in health care?

One of my aunts worked as a nurse practitioner at Health Care for the Homeless in Detroit when I was growing up. I would go to the clinic with her and meet patients who struggled to get access to medical care. They were so appreciative of the clinic’s work, and I was inspired to follow in her footsteps. Since then, I’ve worked with a variety of patients who have cancer, benign blood disorders and other illnesses. I enjoy the relationships I develop with patient and families, and I find it rewarding to help ease the burden of a difficult disease or treatment process.

What personal experiences have informed your approach to care?

Like many people working in oncology, I have had family members affected by cancer. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor; watching her manage the residual side effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation made clear the lasting impact that treatment can have. Sometimes that impact is very tangible, like the lymph node condition she has lived with for several years. But there’s also the less visible stressors, too — like the financial worries and the fear of disease recurrence — that linger long after treatment is over. I approach patient care with compassion, a whole-person focus and an awareness of the long-term effects that cancer can have on individuals and families.

Provider Background

Specialty: Hematology

Malignant and non-malignant blood disorders
I am an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) who specializes in caring for patients who undergo blood and bone marrow transplantation. My background includes experience in palliative care, pulmonary critical care, pediatric bone marrow transplantation and benign hematology. In my current role, I work with adult patients who have a variety of cancers as well as non-malignant blood disorders.