Katie R. Russell, ARNP

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Russell
Katie R. Russell, ARNP

Katie R. Russell, ARNP

  • Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Fred Hutch
  • Teaching Associate, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Hematology

“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.”

— Katie


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

Area of Clinical Practice
Malignant and non-malignant blood disorders, blood and marrow transplantation

I am an advanced registered nurse practitioner 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. 

Diseases Treated

Blood Disorders

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Multiple Myeloma

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Myeloproliferative Disorder

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome

Sickle Cell Disease

Thalassemia

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Wayne State University

Medical Degree
Wayne State University School of Medicine

Board Certification
Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, 2011, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Other
MSN, Wayne State University School of Nursing; Teaching Appointment, Seattle Pacific University

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you. 

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.