Dr. Richard Russell has been a doctor in Pine Grove for 43 years. He attended Penn State- Main Campus to pursue his medical degree. It took him 11 years of school to get his degree. While he was in college he had an internship in Columbus, Ohio. 

“I was encouraged by my father, he was a lawyer but he said he always wanted to be a doctor and he was a medic in WW2. He told me that being a doctor would be a good career because you can make an impact on people’s lives,” said Russell

All 43 years of Dr. Russell’s career have been in the Pine Grove office. “I think it is very rewarding (working in a small town)  as opposed to working in a city. You get to develop relationships with your patients and relationships with your coworkers,” said  Russell. 

Dr. Russell said that there are some advantages and disadvantages of working in a small office. He said that the advantages of working in  a small office are, “You get to know the people and patients well, you also get to know the staff well too.” 

He said that the disadvantages are “ It’s about resources, you don’t get all of the things that the bigger offices get.” But in his opinion the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because he spent his 43 year career all at the same Pine Grove office.