Michael E. Russell II, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgery - Spine & Neck
3414 Golden Road, Tyler, Texas 75701 (Spine Center)
Also Sees Patients At:
Michael E. Russell, II M.D. is board certified, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Russell specializes in the treatment of spine injury, deformity, and degeneration. His interests include decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical spine surgery.
Dr. Russell specializes in all types of spinal surgery and previously has been named one of the “Best Spine Specialists in America” by Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review. Additionally, he has been recognized as a Texas Monthly Super Doctor from 2016 – 2023. 
Dr. Russell is the past president of Physician Hospitals of America, a national trade organization representing physician-owned hospitals. He is a founder and past board chairman of Texas Spine & Joint Hospital. Dr. Russell holds hospital privileges at Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital, Mother Frances Hospital and UT Health East Texas.
“Chronic back pain, loss of flexibility and mobility—this is the high price my patients pay every day. For many of them, spine surgery comes at the end of many years of treatments and medicine. But there is good news here—new surgical treatments can have dramatic results. It’s a great thing to be able to help restore function and reduce pain.”
Dr. Russell attended medical school and completed his orthopedic training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas following the completion of his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. He is a member of the National Association of Spine Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Texas Orthopedic Association and the Texas Medical Association.
Dr. Russell is assisted by Forrest Persing, PA.
Watch Dr. Russell’s KETK East Texas Live interview on the difference between an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and a Neurosurgeon- September 2023
Watch Dr. Russell’s KETK East Texas Live interview on what makes Azalea Orthopedics unique- July 2023
Watch Dr. Russell’s KLTV interview about the Azalea Orthopedic exhibit at Discovery Science Place – January 2023
Surgery of the Spine & Neck
Board Certifications:
Board Certification Orthopedic Surgery, August 1999
Licenses:
Texas
Fellowship in Spine Surgery:
The Carolinas Medical Center at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
July 1996 – June 1997
Residency:
The University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, TX
Medical School
July 1991 – June 1996
Medical School:
The University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, Texas
Medical School
June 1991
Undergraduate:
University of Texas at Austin, TX
1985-1987
Degree: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Named as one of the 100 Spine Surgeons and Specialists to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2011
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, TX
Alpha Omega Alpha
The University of Texas at Austin, TX
Engineering Honors Program 1983-1987
Ernest Cockrell Jr. Foundation Scholarship 1983-1987
Dean’s Honor List 1983-1986
Chemical Engineering Academic Scholarship 1986
Principal Investigator, Lumbar Interbody Fusion Trial (LIFT) sponsored by Spineology Inc. Began March 2014.
Sub-Investigator, An IDE Study of the Freedom Lumbar Disc vs. ProDisc in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, sponsored by AxioMed. Began Winter 2011.
Principal Investigator, RAMP Study sponsored by TranS1, Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Clinical Study Comparing Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion (AxiaLIF and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) Spinal procedures. Began Winter 2011.
Training Course sponsored by the (NIH) National Institutes of Health, “Protecting Human Research Participants” completed August 2009.
Sub-Investigator for the LDR Spine, Mobi-C, Cervical Disc replacement (One or Two levels) versus (One or Two level) Cervical Fusion. Began June 2006.
Sub-Investigator for the Kineflex Spinal System verses Charite Spinal System single level. Began January 2006 thru Ongoing.
Sub-Investigator for the Kineflex-C Spinal System verses Anterior Cervical Fusion at single level. Began January 2006 thru Ongoing.
Principal Investigator of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Compression Resistant Matrix with the CD Horizon Spinal System for Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion in Patients with Symptomatic Degenerative Disc Disease. Began February 2002 thru Ongoing.
Co-Investigator for Recumbent Bone Morphogenic Protein with Novus LT cages, titanium implants for use in spine fusions.
Co-Investigator for Prodisc artificial disc replacement study. Began October 2001 thru Ongoing.
National Association of Spine Surgeons
American Medical Association
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Texas Orthopedic Association
Texas Medical Association
Clinic Address: Garden Level, 3414 Golden Road, Tyler, Texas 75701
Satellite Clinic Hours: Mt. Pleasant Satellite Clinic: Every fourth Friday morning of the month for spinal care only.
Hospital Privileges:
Texas Spine and Joint Hospital
UT Health East Texas Hospital
Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital
Main Appointment Line: (903) 939-7501
Direct Line: (903) 939-7766
Fax: (903) 939-7714
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