Bobby Russell
Program Director of Belmont OMPT Fellowship and Assistant Director of Clinical Education
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, DipACLM, MBSR Teacher-Training Level II
Location: McWhorter Hall 350
bobby.russell@belmont.eduBiography
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.
- Pain Mechanisms
- Lifestyle Medicine and Physical Therapy
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Integrating Mindfulness approaches in Physical Therapy
- Russell RE, Steimling M, Bemis R, Young J, Neilson B, Siengsukon K.
Is there an association between sleep health and pain and functional outcomes in patients receiving physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions?
Bellin Health
Date: In progress - Russell RE, Mott D, Margeson C, Young J, Keter D.
How are the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) classification terms nociceptive, nociplastic, and neuropathic pain collectively presented across literature, and how does their use vary across contexts?
Bellin health
Date: In Progress
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine
2024 to Present - American Academy of Orthopedic and Manual Therapists
2017 to Present - American Physical Therapy Association Orthopedic Section Member
2014 to Present - American Physical Therapy Association
2011 to Present - American Physical Therapy Association Tennessee Chapter
2011 to Present - American Orthopaedic Physical Therapy CPG-CPI Product & Resource Work Group
Duration: 9/20/2025 to Present
- Russell RE, Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA, Shepherd ME. Feasibility and acceptability of a remote mindfulness intervention for public school educators. Abstract. LM2023 Lifestyle Medicine Conference; 2023 October 29-Nov 1; Denver, Colorado and Virtual. Abstract number 1515341.
- Russell RE. Keynote Speaker.
Mindfulness, Riding the Waves of Uncertainty
Metro Nashville Public Health Department Bureau of Clinical Health Services Yearly Retreat
Date: 4/3/2025 - Russell RE.
Introduction to Mindfulness - Reducing Daily Stress
Belmont University Physical Therapy School
Date: 10/7/2025, 9/10/2024, 10/3/2023, 11/1/2022, 11/1/2021 - Russell RE.
Clinical Reasoning and Master Adaptive Learner Lecture
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 10/3/2025, 9/17/2024
Russell RE. Assessing and Treating the Hip
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 2/14/2025 - Russell RE. Assessing and Treating the Pelvic Girdle and SIJ
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 11/22/2024 - Russell RE, Burhart T.
Mindfully Motivated Physical Therapy (MMPT).
Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Rehab Seminar Series. Virtual Presentation.
Date: 11/12/2024 - Shepherd, ME (PI, presenter) Russell RE (Co-Investigator, presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA.
“Virtual Mindfulness-Based Training for a High-Stress, High-Burnout Workforce.” Podium presentation.
International Conference on Mindfulness
August 2-6, 2024; Bangor University, Wales, UK.
Date:8/4/2024 - Russell RE (Presenter), Shepherd ME (Presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA.
“Virtual Mindfulness-Based Training for a High-Stress, High-Burnout Workforce.”
Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference; 2024 April 9-12; Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Date: 04/10/2024 - Russell RE.
Mindfulness in Special Populations a 4-week course- Spinal Cord Injury. Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Department
Date: 4/10/2023, 4/17/2023, 4/24/2023, 5/1/2023 - Russell RE (Presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA, Shepherd ME. Feasibility and acceptability of a remote mindfulness intervention for public school educators [poster presentation].
LM2023 Lifestyle Medicine Conference
2023 October 29-Nov 1; Denver, Colorado and Virtual. Abstract number 1515341.
Date: 10/29/2023 - Russell RE, Mancini A.
Severity Irritability Nature Stage Stability (SINSS) Model for Physical Therapists.
Upstream Rehabilitation Institute Fellowship program
Date: Sept 2021. - Russell RE.
Has Traction Lost Traction? Determining its place in clinical practice
Upstream Rehabilitation Institute Residency and Fellowship Program
Date: 2/12/2017 - Russell RE, Mancini A, Patel H, Thompson G.
Evidence Based Management of the Lower Quarter
Platform Presentation at Tennessee Physical Therapy Association and Physical Therapy Association of Georgia joint spring meeting
Date: 11/9/2016
- Russell RE. Keynote Speaker.
Mindfulness, Riding the Waves of Uncertainty
Metro Nashville Public Health Department Bureau of Clinical Health Services Yearly Retreat
Date: 4/3/2025 - Russell RE.
Introduction to Mindfulness - Reducing Daily Stress
Belmont University Physical Therapy School
Date: 10/7/2025, 9/10/2024, 10/3/2023, 11/1/2022, 11/1/2021 - Russell RE.
Clinical Reasoning and Master Adaptive Learner Lecture
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 10/3/2025, 9/17/2024 - Russell RE. Assessing and Treating the Hip
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 2/14/2025 - Russell RE. Assessing and Treating the Pelvic Girdle and SIJ
Vanderbilt Orthopedic Residency
Date: 11/22/2024 - Russell RE, Burhart T.
Mindfully Motivated Physical Therapy (MMPT).
Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Rehab Seminar Series. Virtual Presentation.
Date: 11/12/2024 - Shepherd, ME (PI, presenter) Russell RE (Co-Investigator, presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA.
“Virtual Mindfulness-Based Training for a High-Stress, High-Burnout Workforce.” Podium presentation.
International Conference on Mindfulness
August 2-6, 2024; Bangor University, Wales, UK.
Date:8/4/2024 - Russell RE (Presenter), Shepherd ME (Presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA.
“Virtual Mindfulness-Based Training for a High-Stress, High-Burnout Workforce.”
Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference; 2024 April 9-12; Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Date: 04/10/2024 - Russell RE.
Mindfulness in Special Populations a 4-week course- Spinal Cord Injury. Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Department
Date: 4/10/2023, 4/17/2023, 4/24/2023, 5/1/2023
Russell RE (Presenter), Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA, Shepherd ME. Feasibility and acceptability of a remote mindfulness intervention for public school educators [poster presentation].
LM2023 Lifestyle Medicine Conference
2023 October 29-Nov 1; Denver, Colorado and Virtual. Abstract number 1515341.
Date: 10/29/2023 - Russell RE, Mancini A.
Severity Irritability Nature Stage Stability (SINSS) Model for Physical Therapists.
Upstream Rehabilitation Institute Fellowship program
Date: Sept 2021. - Russell RE.
Has Traction Lost Traction? Determining its place in clinical practice
Upstream Rehabilitation Institute Residency and Fellowship Program
Date: 2/12/2017 - Russell RE, Mancini A, Patel H, Thompson G.
Evidence Based Management of the Lower Quarter
Platform Presentation at Tennessee Physical Therapy Association and Physical Therapy Association of Georgia joint spring meeting
Date: 11/9/2016
Non-peer Reviewed Professional Presentations: - Russell RE.
Mindfulness Made Practical
Metro Nashville Public School Systems – Adolescence Health Fair
Date: 9/9/2023, 7/23/2022 - Russell RE.
Introduction to Mindfulness- Reducing Daily Stress
Vanderbilt University Medical Center- Rehab Seminar
Date: 3/16/2021 - Russell RE.
Patient Centered Communication with Concepts of Motivational Interviewing Body Logic Physical Therapy
Date: 12/17/2018
- Russell RE, Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA, Shepherd ME
$4,000.00
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Metro Nashville Public School - A Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study
Osher Center Pilot grant
Date: 5/19/2021 - Russell RE, Jenkins E, Gill K, Davidson C, Coronado RA, Shepherd ME
$6,100.00
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Metro Nashville Public School - A Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study
CTSA award No. UL1 TR002243 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent official views of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences or the National Institutes of Health.
Date: 6/9/2022