Born with a congenital heart defect and later diagnosed with lymphoma at age 10, Russell spent much of his childhood in hospitals. Between this and becoming a certified carpenter, Russell developed two lifelong passions: helping others and working with his hands. Through one of his college professors, Russell discovered the best way he could apply both skill sets was to design and make prosthetic devices. Today, Russell is pursuing his master’s in prosthetics and orthotics at Kennesaw State University, where he and his classmates are researching how to make prosthetic and orthotic fittings more comfortable for patients. Being from a small town in Kentucky, Russell wants to show young people living in rural communities that there are career opportunities like POP out there. He talks to high school students in his hometown about his career path and is always looking for new ways to spread the word about the profession.