Bobby Russell

Biography

Bobby Russell serves as Program Director of the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) Fellowship and Assistant Director of Clinical Education in the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University. His work focuses on advancing clinical excellence through orthopaedic manual therapy, clinical reasoning, and evidence-informed, patient-centered care.

He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and completed fellowship training in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy through Upstream Rehabilitation Institute. He is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). Bobby is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT) through Bellin College, further strengthening his academic and research foundations.

Bobby brings an interdisciplinary background that integrates musculoskeletal rehabilitation, mindfulness, and lifestyle medicine. He has completed advanced training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), holding Teacher-Training Level II certification, and has extensive experience teaching mindfulness-based skills to both healthcare professionals and patient populations. His work emphasizes the roles of attention, self-regulation, and cognitive-behavioral factors in pain, recovery, and human performance.

His professional interests also extend into lifestyle medicine, with particular focus on the relationships among physical activity, sleep, stress, and long-term health outcomes. He is especially interested in how behavior-change principles and whole-person health strategies can be meaningfully integrated into orthopaedic and manual physical therapy practice.

Prior to joining Belmont, Bobby’s career combined clinical practice, teaching, and mentorship across academic and healthcare settings. He has worked extensively with individuals presenting with complex musculoskeletal conditions, including persistent pain and spine-related disorders, and remains deeply committed to clinician development through structured mentoring and advanced education.

Through his leadership, teaching, and mentorship at Belmont University, Bobby is dedicated to developing reflective, highly skilled clinicians who demonstrate strong clinical reasoning, technical precision, and a comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach to patient care.