
Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Russell is a medical oncologist and treats patients with head and neck, endocrine, cutaneous, and other rare or unknown primary malignancies. He started his practice at Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, FL and then spend a few years working in the pharmaceutical industry helping to develop cutting-edge immune therapy evaluated in clinical trials. He has recently joined the excellent Head and Neck Team at Huntsman and is excited to be working with patients again.
Clinical Locations
801-646-4093
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
Academic Divisions | Oncology |
Board Certification | American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine) |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
5.0/ 5

Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
5.0/ 5

Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.9/ 5

Wait time at clinic
4.6/ 5

Care provider's concern for questions & worries
5.0/ 5

Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
March 19, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Great Doctor. The procedure was explained and the side effects were explained.
UofU Patient
March 07, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Russell always answers all of my questions and offers explanations and talked at length about my care plan.
UofU Patient
March 07, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Excellent .. Answered all questions thoroughly
UofU Patient
February 28, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Russell is an excellent physician
UofU Patient
February 21, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Russell and staff have made my cancer journey smooth. I've always been informed and educated of every step in advance.
UofU Patient
February 05, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I would highly recommend Dr. Russell as a provider to all cancer patients
UofU Patient
February 01, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Russell is very concerned caring and informative through this entire process. He answers questions thoroughly and makes certain I understand the whole procedure and timeline .
UofU Patient
January 20, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
All good
UofU Patient
January 08, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Wonderful Doctor
UofU Patient
January 06, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Russell was fantastic. He took the time to speak to me in a very caring way. He also took the time to show me scans in detail. He did an amazing overview of the care that he has In mild for me and explained all the available options in a way that I could understand. He also was happy to work with my other doctors. I feel so blessed that I had the opportunity to have a consultation with such a stellar doctor. Highly recommended!
UofU Patient
December 30, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I feel very well taken care of by Dr Russell. He looks for options that he believes will help me the most. He also welcomes questions my family members have when present with me, or by calling in, during my appointments.
UofU Patient
December 29, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I don't usually recommend doctors
UofU Patient
December 06, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Russell is truly unbelievable. His concern and compassion feel extremely sincere, and I can't imagine a better doctor caring for me right now. I will be forever grateful for Dr. Russell and the rest of my team!
UofU Patient
November 29, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Doctor went over all options.
UofU Patient
November 28, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very good
UofU Patient
November 27, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Russell is caring and concerned about my treatments current and future.
UofU Patient
November 22, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Each doctor and nurse explained everything to me what they were doing
UofU Patient
November 21, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
November 20, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very thorough
UofU Patient
November 19, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very thoughtful and caring and professional oncologist
UofU Patient
November 11, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
One of the best doctors I have ever had care from. Very caring and very knowledgeable.
UofU Patient
October 24, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Jeff Russell is great. Professional along with a caring concern, good communication skills and compassionion.
UofU Patient
October 22, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
This was the first time meeting Dr. Russell and we were impressed. He had read my complete chart and knew about everything. It was very nice not to have to retell everything to a new medical professional.
UofU Patient
October 16, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Super great
UofU Patient
October 14, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very professional healthcare team. I will trust them with my life
UofU Patient
October 05, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Gave me lots of information to process. Answered all my questions
UofU Patient
September 22, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Jeff Russell is excellent. First time patient and he put me at ease right away. Explained my treatment and created a path for us to proceed. Dr. Russell was concerned about several areas on my PET scan and he followed up with a Ultra sound to my legs and a brain MRI to make sure all was ok to start treatment. Dr. Russell has followed up with several phone calls to explain the results. Dr. Dev Abraham recommended Dr. Russell and for that I am grateful.
UofU Patient
September 04, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I was so impressed with Dr Russel and his thorough explanation of my cancer. I felt like he spent a great amount of time and effort explaining and supporting me in my understanding and ability to make decisions about my continued care. I felt very fortunate to have Dr Russel on my team.
Dr. Russell is a medical oncologist and treats patients with head and neck, endocrine, cutaneous, and other rare or unknown primary malignancies. He started his practice at Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, FL and then spend a few years working in the pharmaceutical industry helping to develop cutting-edge immune therapy evaluated in clinical trials. He has recently joined the excellent Head and Neck Team at Huntsman and is excited to be working with patients again.
Academic Locations
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
Academic Divisions | Oncology |
Board Certification | American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine) |
Education History
Graduate Training | Temple University Strategic Management M.B.A., 2020 |
Fellowship | Stanford University School of Medicine Medical Oncology Fellow, 2013 |
Internship/Residency | University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Internal Medicine Intern/Resident, 2010 |
Professional Medical | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Medicine M.D., 2007 |
Graduate Training | University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Biomedical Sciences/Radiation Biology Ph.D., 2002 |
Graduate Training | University of Miami Biomedical Engineering M.S., 1997 |
Undergraduate | University of Kansas Electrical Engineering B.S., 1995 |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Lambert J, Marrel A, DAngelo SP, Burgess MA, Chmielowski B, Fazio N, Gambichler T, Grob JJ, Lebb C, Robert C, Russell J, Gzel G, Bharmal M (2020). Patient Experiences with Avelumab in Treatment-Naïve Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Longitudinal Qualitative Interview Findings from JAVELIN Merkel 200, a Registrational Clinical Trial. Patient, 13(4), 457-467.
- Knepper TC, Montesion M, Russell JS, Sokol ES, Frampton GM, Miller VA, Albacker LA, McLeod HL, Eroglu Z, Khushalani NI, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Schell MJ, DeCaprio JA, Tsai KY, Brohl AS (2019). The Genomic Landscape of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Clinicogenomic Biomarkers of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Clin Cancer Res, 25(19), 5961-5971.
- Wang HL, McMillan SC, Vijayakumar N, McDonald S, Huang LT, Gwede C, Padhya T, Russell J, Vondruska K, Buck HG, Huang Y, Visovsky C (2018). A Behavioral Physical Activity Intervention to Manage Moderate and Severe Fatigue Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients-Pre-efficacy Study in the National Institutes of Health ORBIT Model. Cancer Nurs, 42(1), E1-E14.
- Naghavi AO, Echevarria MI, Strom TJ, Abuodeh YA, Venkat PS, Ahmed KA, Demetriou S, Frakes JM, Kim Y, Kish JA, Russell JS, Otto KJ, Chung CH, Harrison LB, Trotti A, Caudell JJ (2018). Patient choice for high-volume center radiation impacts head and neck cancer outcome. Cancer Med, 7(10), 4964-4979.
- DAngelo SP, Russell J, Lebb C, Chmielowski B, Gambichler T, Grob JJ, Kiecker F, Rabinowits G, Terheyden P, Zwiener I, Bajars M, Hennessy M, Kaufman HL (2018). Efficacy and Safety of First-line Avelumab Treatment in Patients With Stage IV Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Preplanned Interim Analysis of a Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol, 4(9), e180077.
- Kaufman HL, Russell JS, Hamid O, Bhatia S, Terheyden P, DAngelo SP, Shih KC, Lebb C, Milella M, Brownell I, Lewis KD, Lorch JH, von Heydebreck A, Hennessy M, Nghiem P (2018). Updated efficacy of avelumab in patients with previously treated metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma after ≥1 year of follow-up: JAVELIN Merkel 200, a phase 2 clinical trial. J Immunother Cancer, 6(1), 7.
- Ross JS, Gay LM, Wang K, Vergilio JA, Suh J, Ramkissoon S, Somerset H, Johnson JM, Russell J, Ali S, Schrock AB, Fabrizio D, Frampton G, Miller V, Stephens PJ, Elvin JA, Bowles DW (2017). Comprehensive genomic profiles of metastatic and relapsed salivary gland carcinomas are associated with tumor type and reveal new routes to targeted therapies. Ann Oncol, 28(10), 2539-2546.
- Knepper TC, Freeman ML, Gibney GT, McLeod HL, Russell JS (2017). Clinical Response to Pazopanib in a Patient With KDR-Mutated Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma. JAMA Dermatol, 153(6), 607-609.
- Strom T, Naghavi AO, Messina JL, Kim S, Torres-Roca JF, Russell J, Sondak VK, Padhya TA, Trotti AM, Caudell JJ, Harrison LB (2016). Improved local and regional control with radiotherapy for Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck, 39(1), 48-55.
- Strom TJ, Naghavi AO, Trotti AM, Russell J, Kish JA, McCaffrey J, Otto KJ, Harrison LB, Caudell JJ (2016). Increased acute mortality with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer in patients ≥70years. J Geriatr Oncol, 8(1), 50-55.
- Wang K, Russell JS, McDermott JD, Elvin JA, Khaira D, Johnson A, Jennings TA, Ali SM, Murray M, Marshall C, Oldham DS, Washburn D, Wong SJ, Chmielecki J, Yelensky R, Lipson D, Miller VA, Stephens PJ, Serracino HS, Ross JS, Bowles DW (2016). Profiling of 149 Salivary Duct Carcinomas, Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenomas, and Adenocarcinomas, Not Otherwise Specified Reveals Actionable Genomic Alterations. Clin Cancer Res, 22(24), 6061-6068.
- Lowry PA, Freeman ML, Russell JS (2016). Nursing Management of Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Oncol Nurs Forum, 43(6), 680-683.
- Strom T, Carr M, Zager JS, Naghavi A, Smith FO, Cruse CW, Messina JL, Russell J, Rao NG, Fulp W, Kim S, Torres-Roca JF, Padhya TA, Sondak VK, Trotti AM, Harrison LB, Caudell JJ (2016). Radiation Therapy is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol, 23(11), 3572-3578.
- Kaufman HL, Russell J, Hamid O, Bhatia S, Terheyden P, DAngelo SP, Shih KC, Lebb C, Linette GP, Milella M, Brownell I, Lewis KD, Lorch JH, Chin K, Mahnke L, von Heydebreck A, Cuillerot JM, Nghiem P (2016). Avelumab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: a multicentre, single-group, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol, 17(10), 1374-1385.
- Valderrabano P, Montilla-Soler J, Mifsud M, Leon M, Centeno B, Khazai L, Padhya T, McCaffrey T, Russell J, McIver B, Otto K (2016). Hypermetabolism on (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Scan Does Not Influence the Interpretation of Thyroid Cytopathology, and Nodules with a SUVmax <2.5 Are Not at Increased Risk for Malignancy. Thyroid, 26(9), 1300-7.
- Valderrabano P, Leon ME, Centeno BA, Otto KJ, Khazai L, McCaffrey JC, Russell JS, McIver B (2016). Institutional prevalence of malignancy of indeterminate thyroid cytology is necessary but insufficient to accurately interpret molecular marker tests. Eur J Endocrinol, 174(5), 621-9.
- Frakes JM, Naghavi AO, Demetriou SK, Strom TJ, Russell JS, Kish JA, McCaffrey JC, Otto KJ, Padhya TA, Harrison LB, Trotti AM, Caudell JJ (2015). Determining optimal follow-up in the management of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer, 122(4), 634-41.
- Strom TJ, Trotti AM, Kish J, Russell JS, Rao NG, McCaffrey J, Padhya TA, Otto KJ, Caudell JJ (2015). Comparison of every 3 week cisplatin or weekly cetuximab with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol, 51(7), 704-8.
- Metterle L, Russell JS, Patel NS (2015). An overview of the medical management of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Curr Probl Cancer, 39(4), 226-36.
- Russell JS, Brown JM (2014). Circulating mouse Flk1+/c-Kit+/CD45- cells function as endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs) and stimulate the growth of human tumor xenografts. Mol Cancer, 13, 177.
- Russell JS, Brown JM (2013). The irradiated tumor microenvironment: role of tumor-associated macrophages in vascular recovery. Front Physiol, 4, 157.
- Russell JS, Colevas AD (2012). The use of epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Chemother Res Pract, 2012, 761518.
- Russell JS, Sawhney R, Monto A, Nanavati S, Davoren JB, Aslam R, Corvera CU (2010). Periprocedural complications by Child-Pugh class in patients undergoing transcatheter arterial embolization or chemoembolization to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma at a VA medical center. Am J Surg, 200(5), 659-64.
- Camphausen K, Brady KJ, Burgan WE, Cerra MA, Russell JS, Bull EE, Tofilon PJ (2004). Flavopiridol enhances human tumor cell radiosensitivity and prolongs expression of gammaH2AX foci. Mol Cancer Ther, 3(4), 409-16.
- Russell JS, Brady K, Burgan WE, Cerra MA, Oswald KA, Camphausen K, Tofilon PJ (2003). Gleevec-mediated inhibition of Rad51 expression and enhancement of tumor cell radiosensitivity. Cancer Res, 63(21), 7377-83.
- Russell JS, Burgan W, Oswald KA, Camphausen K, Tofilon PJ (2003). Enhanced cell killing induced by the combination of radiation and the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17- demethoxygeldanamycin: a multitarget approach to radiosensitization. Clin Cancer Res, 9(10 Pt 1), 3749-55.
- Russell JS, Tofilon PJ (2002). Radiation-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB involves selective degradation of plasma membrane-associated I(kappa)B(alpha). Mol Biol Cell, 13(10), 3431-40.
- Russell JS, Raju U, Gumin GJ, Lang FF, Wilson DR, Huet T, Tofilon PJ (2002). Inhibition of radiation-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation by an anti-Ras single-chain antibody fragment: lack of involvement in radiosensitization. Cancer Res, 62(8), 2318-26.
- Russell JS, Lang FF, Huet T, Janicot M, Chada S, Wilson DR, Tofilon PJ (1999). Radiosensitization of human tumor cell lines induced by the adenovirus-mediated expression of an anti-Ras single-chain antibody fragment. Cancer Res, 59(20), 5239-44.
- Wu X, Ting JY, Markoe AM, Landy HJ, Fiedler JA, Russell J (1996). Stereotactic dose computation and plan optimization using the convolution theorem. I. Dose computation. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg, 66 Suppl 1, 302-8.