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| Jim Russ, CO, thoroughly enjoys an animated remark from speaker Paul De La Torre, CPO. Seated to the right of the speaker are Tony Staros and Richard Lehneis, PhD, CPO. |
Jim Russ, CO, was honored at a “Roast & Toast”
March 7-8 at Mary Free Bed Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a
great man in the history of orthotics. For over 50 years, he has
been a major contributor to the field as an advocate, innovator,
and educator. By creating post-secondary programs, standardizing
curriculums and establishing residencies, Russ elevated orthotics
from a trade to a profession. In his 20 years as director of
Orthotic Education at Northwestern University Medical School,
Chicago, Illinois, he has perhaps trained more students for
practitioner-level certification in orthotics than any other
educator.
In 1976, Russ helped establish a state-of-the-art Orthotics
Department at Mary Free Bed Hospital & Rehabilitation Center.
Mary Free Bed’s national reputation for excellence in
rehabilitation, combined with the newly established Orthotics
Department, led him to choose this location for the first residency program in the United
States.
Hence, Mary Free Bed Orthotics was proud to host this event
attended by over 100 guests, including Jim Russ’s family and many
friends and colleagues. The inspiration for the event originated
with Becky (Weller) deLongpre, CPed, who studied at Northwestern
University in 1981 under Russ. Gina Corazza, CO, a close colleague
and also a Northwestern graduate, joined Becky to make it happen.
They devoted countless hours to planning, organizing, and
preparing.
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| Jim and Janice Russ with the new plaque hung near the Mary Free Bed Orthotics entrance. |
Following a welcome by Bob Bosch, COO,
administrator of Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics, were
tours of the newly renovated orthotics clinical and fabrication
areas, the new prosthetics department, and other hospital
facilities.
The event continued at the Marriott Hotel with a champagne and
hors d’oeuvres reception and a sumptuous dinner, followed by the
Roast &Toast, emceed by Mike Brncick, CPO. Russ’s brother Jerry
spoke first, sharing some of the details from the earlier years
when Jim was still at home.
Tony Staros, engineer and assistant director of the World
Rehabilitation Fund (WRF), commented, “To make the students fear,
you have to have arrogance, and Jim is good at that.” He expressed
his appreciation for Jim, chiding him with descriptions like
“tenacious pest” and “serious heckling.”
Robert Rhodes, CO, University of Michigan Orthotics &
Prosthetics department, said that he was inclined to “toast” more
than “roast.” He shared how Russ had inspired him to make a
profession of orthotics and how Russ cared deeply about his
students and staff.
Mike Burton, CPO, Prosthetic Research Specialists, Bushnell,
Florida, thanked Mary Free Bed and the corporate donors. He noted
how Jim Russ’s name and influence are well known throughout the
country and applauded him as a “warrior for professionalism within
the field.”
Paul De La Torre, CPO, of De La Torre Orthotics &
Prosthetics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, adeptly offered a number of
vocal impersonations of Russ and described how his former
instructor was “hard on those he really felt could do it.”
Richard Lehneis, PhD, CPO, former director of Orthotics &
Prosthetics at New York University, who taught Jim Russ in the
early 60s, took the microphone and served up a run of humorous
anecdotes, for which the emcee dubbed the speaker “PhD-stand-up
comedian.”
Don Shurr, CPO, PT, American Prosthetics & Orthotics in
Iowa, and chairman of the National Commission on Orthotic and
Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), was the final “roaster.” He
energetically reminisced about the number of humorous incidents
from the orthotics class of 1986. Shurr wound up the evening a
little choked up as he praised Jim Russ as “a true leader and
pioneer.”
Mike Brncick accurately observed that there was “a lot of love
in this room,” and invited Jim to make some personal remarks.
“I feel so humbled to have all of you come here. There’s 3,000
other people out in the parking lot with machetes&but at least
I’ve got a few friends anyway. Thanks, guys!” As Russ concluded his
remarks, the audience gave him a hearty applause and standing
ovation.
