GSDM community mourns the passing of Dr. David Russell
The GSDM community is mourning the passing of Assistant Dean for Admissions Dr. David Russell, a kind and loving Renaissance man who lost his battle with cancer on January 9, 2020. He was 63.
“Over the course of his career, David influenced the lives and careers of countless dental students, and was a supportive friend and colleague to all who knew him,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “He had an incredible presence, and will be deeply missed.”
The son of the late Alfred S. and Barbara O. (Grunzwieg) Russell, Russell was raised in Reading, Massachusetts, and went on to earn a BA in Theology and Music at Boston College, a DMD from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and an MPH degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He also completed a General Practice Residency at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and served as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow through the Institute of Medicine in Washington D.C.
Russell enjoyed a long career in dental medicine as a practitioner, academic and public health leader. Following a 24-year career at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and four years in the private sector, Russell was appointed to the GSDM faculty in 2012 as a clinical associate professor of General Dentistry and director of the Group Practice Experience and Team Leadership initiative. Russell was promoted in 2016 into the role of assistant dean for patient care. Then in 2017, he was appointed assistant dean for admissions. A promotion process had been started recently, and Dean Hutter was looking forward to promoting Russell to associate dean for admissions the week of January 18, 2021.
During his time as director of the Group Practice Experience and Team Leadership initiative, Russell was instrumental in the development and implementation of GSDM’s highly successful Group Practice Model. As assistant dean for patient care, Russell anticipated and responded to the ongoing and evolving needs of modern patient care through the application of thoughtful and effective leadership and vision in relation to GSDM’s Patient Treatment Centers. And as dean for admissions, he was one of the first people at GSDM who applicants met, and he provided steady and inspirational leadership for hundreds of students taking their first steps into dentistry. Over the last year, Russell played a critical role in transitioning the school to a fully remote admissions process, to accommodate the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Russell’s research interest was in medication-induced xerostomia and he was well published on the topic. He also lectured nationally and internationally on a wide range of dental risk management issues as well.
Russell cared deeply about dentistry, and gave back to his profession through his membership in numerous professional organizations, including: the American Dental Association; the Massachusetts Dental Society; the American Dental Education Association; the American Public Health Association; the American Association of Public Health Dentistry; the American Association of Dental Boards and the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners. He was a fellow of both the American College and International College of Dentists as well as the Pierre Fauchard Academy and Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society. Russell was also a member of the American Association of Dental Consultants.
A celebration of David’s remarkable life will be planned at a time when it is safe for all who knew him to gather. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in David’s honor to the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Office of Development, 10th Floor, 85 East Newton St., Boston, MA 02118. You can also donate online–if you do so, please note that your gift is in honor of Dr. David Russell.
To read the full obituary, and to leave a message of condolence, please visit https://www.dellorusso.net.