Dr. Biography

I was born in Columbus, Ohio and our family later returned  to the Steubenville-Mingo Junction, Ohio area where I completed grade school (1970) and high school (1974) in Steubenville. Honors were given in English, Religion, and Science. Auto/motorcycle mechanics, electronics, scientific pursuit, paper routes, mowing lawns, restaurant work and amateur radio kept me busy.  My parents, Peter and Anna Russin, and siblings John, Thomas,  Marianne,  kept me going with guidance and support.

I later entered Ohio State University where course work led to a Bachelor of Science in Zoology in June,1978. Undergraduate extracurricular activities included a business partnership in audio electronics, various jobs in the the hotel and restaurant field, and electrical power plant employment. A senior thesis in "The Physiological Effects of Noise and Sound on Animal Heart Rate", was submitted as part of degree requirements.

Three years later in June 1981, the DDS degree was earned at Ohio State (Twice Buckeye!). Here, interests in Endodontics and Oral Pathology were found, and I chronicled  our dental class photographically through the program and contributed several unique and memorable yearbook pictures. I later moved to Cleveland, Ohio and practiced with the American Dental Centers as a general dentist. In 1982, I joined Gary Shue, DDS of Circleville, Ohio, and Community Dental Centers of Columbus, Ohio as an associate in general practice with an emphasis in Emergency Dentistry,  Removable Prosthetics, and Oral Surgery. While back in Columbus, research activities at OSU continued in "A Method of Video Taped Analysis of Plastic Block Canal Instrumentation", which helped develop and document real-time video visualization of canal instrumentation as a teaching standard world wide.

Two years later, in May of 1985, a Certificate in Endodontics was issued at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Research in "The Inhibition of Endotoxin Activity of Endodontic Irrigants and Sonics using the Limulus Lysate Assay", was investigated as part of the degree requirements. While in Philadelphia, I was an associate in general practice, with Dante DeCresenszo, DMD of Narberth, PA,  Media Dental Associates of Media, PA and an externship with Center City Prosthodontics during the program.  Photographing Philadelphia/South Jersey during the seasons, amateur radio, and the South Jersey Shore were all part of the times.

Fond memories of family East Coast beach vacations as a child,  and a positive business climate, brought me to Florida. While waiting for the Florida Dental Board Examination results, I met my wife, Susan from  Oakdale,  LI,  NY,  and settled in Tampa-USF-Temple Terrace area. That year, along with Richard Blackman, DMD of Calgary, Canada, continued a project in "Stereoscopic Radiography" that we started during our residencies at Temple University. A viewfinder system was assembled, and was presented at the Boston, MA meeting of the American Association of Endodontics (AAE) in May 1986.  During this time, I elected to set up a private practice at our current location, 131 N. Moon Avenue, in Brandon, and our first patient was seen July 25, 1986. My enthusiasm for being able to finally do what I worked so long for, was overwhelming.

Practice highs and lows began to eventually step in leading to a crash course in business management. Hundreds of management and equipment changes were introduced and "Office Tips" were born as part of our monthly newsletter, The Endodontic Literature Update. Research in an X-Ray LCD viewfinder that clips to a patient's napkin was developed to allow for a rapid eye-movement viewing of a periapical radiograph during surgical procedures was presented as "Quickview" at the AAE meeting in Las Vegas in 1990.  The Moon Avenue office was expanded and remodeled to incorporate these changes and accommodate growth.. During this time, I got married in 1989 to Susan, and while she was earning her Degree in Dental Hygiene at St. Pete JC,  I completed the case requirements and passed the oral examination to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, in April 1991.

At this point, Susan and I both entered the work force full time. I continued research in cytology and bacterial culture studies using aerobic and the VPI anaerobic techniques for antibacterial susceptibility testing,  identification of microorganism species. Routine aerobic and anarobic culturing/antibiotic suseptiblity testing of patients was initiated and documented using  video digitalization. A mentor, Dr. Manuel Weisman, DDS of Medical College of Georgia  encouraged  me to  write The Endodontic Literature Update with an office tip, and introduced me to the cast gold post and core technique. A microbiological and gold casting lab was set up, and the laboratory design and clinical techniques were presented at several  Brandon Dental Study Club membership meetings.  

As the Endodontic Literature Update newsletter was nearing its 5th and final year, I became active in the Brandon Dental Study Club as its Secretary/Editor for the club's monthly newsletter for my 3 year term. It was during this period, that the wonders of  DOS, Windows, and WordPerfect were discovered. Interest in scalable fonts, graphics, and image files got me started in the whole concept of newsletters,  web page publishing (russindds.com since 1997), and sharing information for the improvement of  Endodontic practice. A personal highlight of the Endodontic Literature Update was incorporating my daughter, Michelle's (It's a girl!) digital picture into an electronic edition without having to cut and paste paper.

Family life continued with home ownership in Valrico, FL, and the birth of our second child, Nicholas.  Attempting to help my wife out as much as possible with the two children,  off-hour baby feedings,  sleepness nights, etc., the writing bug bit again.  Suite Success was started in April 1998 as a monthly publication . Available by fax or e-mail, this publication is currently being sent to hundreds of  local Brandon areas business and worldwide that presents a monthly small business "Office Tip". Utilizing digital photography, Microstation CAD, and various word processing/fax/email programs, I have attempted to share my small business experiences via computers and the word wide web as a brief one-page tip.  

My amateur radio hobby has continued since 1971, and also fueled my interest in computing and imaging. My activities over the years included Morse code, voice, radioteletype, portable/emergency operations, public service, mobile, digital/packet activity, satellite, amateur fast and  slow scan (SSTV)  television,  Echolink,  PSK, and APRS. Publications in "Touch Tone Remote Control of an HF Transceiver" and "NiCad Battery Charging/Cycling Fundamentals" were submitted to QST and 73 magazine hobby journals.  A trusting relationship  of local Radio Amateurs for 20 years have been developed and are active in daily broadcast of personal and government assisted programs in emergency management, assistance in Special Olympics events,  Gasparilla,  and hurricane communication via voice,  packet relay and 5-day minimum battery backup power.

A position at the University of Florida's Department of Endodontics in Gainesville, FL as an Assistant Clinical Courtesy Professor began in October 1998.  A monthly teaching day has enabled me to "give something back" to the profession.  Activities in current and classical literature review,  patient assistance/monitoring in the graduate and pre-doctoral clinics, and mentoring of the Endodontic residents has proved to be most rewarding.  8 Residents and 2 Fellows are enrolled/year.  Lunch time Power Point presentations of clinical cases from my experience and Suite Success tips are presented on a rotating  biennium basis to the graduate Endodontic residents and pre-doctoral students.  Direct clinical treatment of casework beyond resident expertise is delivered to N. Florida citizens and UF Staff.  Observation and communicative feedback of the developing Graduate Endodontic program in 8 of the 12 graduating classes has been maintained with department Chairs,  Directors, and Staff.  Testing and feedback of developing devices/techniques and research has been contributed.  Grading of students and personal development of the residents/dumb questions have been answered.  Encouragement in participation in the American Board of Endodonics certification process with the residents has been relayed as per personal experience and guidance.  "Shadowing" of residents in our office does occur for their insight to a private practice setting.

1999:   I became an ongoing Peer Consultant in  Computers and Information Technology  for the American Association of  Endodontics to the present. In 2000 our third child,  Michael, was born.  Family life continues along with day-to-day practice.

2002:   We were nominated and won  the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award for the 1-5 employee category as judged by the Service Corps Of  Retired Business Executives (SCORE).  Our selection was based on our relationship with our staff  to the delivery of Endodontic services. 

2003-2005:   Our office entered into the paperless era.  Digital radiography/photography, paperless patient charting, internet access,  remote database access,  electronic security measures and data backup were all incorporated.  Interoffice communication via letter or electronic transmission of documents and images concerning  patient casework have been established.  We have prided ourselves with the motto:  "A letter(s) goes out each time a patient hits the chair" to keep all involved parties informed. Approximately 47,000+ letters/cards have been written to date. 

2005-2006:  Our office has shifted gears towards providing sedation for our Endodontic procedures to minimize patient anxiety towards treatment and provide maximum control of any discomfort.  I have completed the D.O.C.S. course (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) to provide oral sedation via a dispensed pill and nitrous oxide prior to dental procedures in November 2005. Recently,  I have also completed an anesthesiology residency at St. Joseph's Hospital/Seton Hall University in Paterson, NJ in March 2006 to meet the educational and case requirements to apply for a Florida Conscious Sedation Permit that allows intravenous (IV) administration of sedative and pain control medications to patients seeking Endodontic treatment.  Extensive training and experience in pharmacology, airway management, cardiovascular (ECG) recognition, medical emergency management, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), equipment purchase, and staff training  has been completed. Preparation for the Adult Conscious Sedation Permit exam,  facility inspection, and Staff testing  has been completed in June 2006 to meet the Florida and American Dental Association's guidelines set for the use of conscious sedation. Currently we are licensed to dispense nitrous oxide, oral sedatives (a pill), and intravenous sedation.  

2007-2008:  We have teamed up with Hector Vila, MD a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and Mobile Anesthesiologists of Tampa for our more advanced anesthesia cases.  Using our combined skills, Dr. Vila and I are able to treat patients whose needs or requests require their own personal anesthesiologist, while Dr. Russin performs the Endodontic procedure.  More complex medical issues, special needs/disabled patients, and out of town "walk-in" cases are able to be managed safely and more comprehensively.  

Currently,  I am still practicing full time in Endodontics 5 days a week,  teaching at the University of Florida's Department of Graduate Endodontics (one day a month),  continuing my education in Endodontics and Anesthesiology and , participating in amateur radio, and enjoying family life.

Memberships:

American Radio Relay League

Tampa Amateur Radio Club

Nativity Catholic Church (Brandon, Fl)

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida Dental Licensure

Hillsborough County Dental Association

West Coast Dental Association

Florida Dental Association

Florida Dental Society of Anesthesiology

Florida Association of  Endodontists

Advanced Cardiac Life Certification, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007

American Society of Dental Anesthesiology 

American Dental Association

American Association of  Endodontists

College of  Diplomates