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Russell Shares Experience as an Emergency Room Intern
4/6/2020 10:31:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Former Duke standout retired from soccer in 2013 and pursued career in medicine.
DURHAM, N.C.—Following his retirement from professional soccer in 2013, former Duke standout Robbie Russell traded in his cleats for scrubs and his time on the field for hours of studying as he returned to school to pursue his goal of becoming a doctor. Nearly seven years later, Russell finds himself on the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as an Emergency Room intern at a hospital in Charlottesville, Va.
At Duke, Russell was a two-time All-ACC first team selection and garnered second-team All-America recognition in 2000. In his four seasons as a Blue Devil, Duke went 64-16-3, won the 1999 ACC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times, 1998-00.
Upon graduating from Duke, Russell was selected 22nd overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Instead of joining MLS immediately, Russell opted to play overseas, signing on with Icelandic club Breiðablik. He also played in the Norwegian Premier League, establishing himself as one of the best right backs in Norway. He heled lead Rosenborg BK win its 19th league title in 2004.
Russell returned stateside in 2008 and signed with Real Salt Lake, which was led by former Duke star Jason Kreis. In his second season with RSL, Russell kicked home the winning penalty kick in the seventh round of the shootout in the 2009 MLS Cup. The goal gave RSL its first MLS championship.
He played three more seasons in MLS, finishing his final two at D.C. United. Russell announced his retirement from professional soccer May 15, 2013 and began classes at Georgetown University's Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program in June of that same year. After schooling, he was matched at the hospital in Charlottesville, Va.
Robbie Russell, former MLS defender, drescribes his life as an ER intern in era of CoVID-19
By: MLS Contributor Ian Quillen
Real Salt Lake fans will remember Robbie Russell as a dependable defender who converted the most important penalty kick in club history. D.C. United fans will recall him as a dependable presence who helped the club climb back to respectability.
In the big picture, those may only have been precursors to the truly important phase of his professional career as an Emergency Room physician.
Russell is in first year as an ER resident in the University of Virginia medical system after graduating from medical school at George Washington University last year. That is likely to put him near the front lines of the medical response to the coronavirus pandemic in the weeks and months ahead, which has brought normal life to a halt across the world.
"It's definitely going to be a part of our experience, in terms of our first year as physicians," Russell said during an interview with Extratime on Monday. "We will be the physician generation that kind of experienced [COVID-19] and that sort of thing. And it kind of effects our training where everyone is adjusting. It's a process of adjustment. It helps coming from my background as an athlete, you're used to kind of adjusting. You don't know what any day is going to bring, and it helps kind of having those strengths and having those resources in your back pocket because it keeps you on your toes."
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At Duke, Russell was a two-time All-ACC first team selection and garnered second-team All-America recognition in 2000. In his four seasons as a Blue Devil, Duke went 64-16-3, won the 1999 ACC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times, 1998-00.
Upon graduating from Duke, Russell was selected 22nd overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Instead of joining MLS immediately, Russell opted to play overseas, signing on with Icelandic club Breiðablik. He also played in the Norwegian Premier League, establishing himself as one of the best right backs in Norway. He heled lead Rosenborg BK win its 19th league title in 2004.
Russell returned stateside in 2008 and signed with Real Salt Lake, which was led by former Duke star Jason Kreis. In his second season with RSL, Russell kicked home the winning penalty kick in the seventh round of the shootout in the 2009 MLS Cup. The goal gave RSL its first MLS championship.
He played three more seasons in MLS, finishing his final two at D.C. United. Russell announced his retirement from professional soccer May 15, 2013 and began classes at Georgetown University's Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program in June of that same year. After schooling, he was matched at the hospital in Charlottesville, Va.
Robbie Russell, former MLS defender, drescribes his life as an ER intern in era of CoVID-19
By: MLS Contributor Ian Quillen
Real Salt Lake fans will remember Robbie Russell as a dependable defender who converted the most important penalty kick in club history. D.C. United fans will recall him as a dependable presence who helped the club climb back to respectability.
In the big picture, those may only have been precursors to the truly important phase of his professional career as an Emergency Room physician.
Russell is in first year as an ER resident in the University of Virginia medical system after graduating from medical school at George Washington University last year. That is likely to put him near the front lines of the medical response to the coronavirus pandemic in the weeks and months ahead, which has brought normal life to a halt across the world.
"It's definitely going to be a part of our experience, in terms of our first year as physicians," Russell said during an interview with Extratime on Monday. "We will be the physician generation that kind of experienced [COVID-19] and that sort of thing. And it kind of effects our training where everyone is adjusting. It's a process of adjustment. It helps coming from my background as an athlete, you're used to kind of adjusting. You don't know what any day is going to bring, and it helps kind of having those strengths and having those resources in your back pocket because it keeps you on your toes."
Continue Reading
#GoDuke
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