Benjamin (Ben) Russell, MDMarshall University School of Medicine

Hometown:
Huntington, WV

Schooling:
Undergrad: West Virginia University
Medical School: Marshall University

Favorite thing about residency at CHoR:
The 2 week schedule is my favorite aspect of training here, and I think most residents will say the same. At first, I was concerned this may hinder continuity with patient care and getting settled during certain rotations. However, there is ample opportunity for continuity during ICU rotations where generally inpatient stays are longer, while you get to follow many patients from admission to discharge on our inpatient services. Sometimes, your schedule will even align such that you are the primary provider on an inpatient service for a patient and then switch rotations to a subspecialty service and get to continue following that patient through a narrower lens.

Favorite things to do and eat in Richmond / Hobbies:
My favorite place to eat is 8 and 1/2 in Church Hill, which has my favorite pizza in town. Cobra Burger is a burger joint right across the street that has some great food. En Su Boca has some of the best tacos and queso in town. There are many local restaurants in the town, and many bigger chain restaurants around town in places like Short Pump. Richmond has many nice breweries with outdoor seating with my some of my favorites being in Scott's Addition.

For hobbies, I enjoy running and biking and live right on the James River trail which I get to take advantage of on my days or weekends off. There are many spots to enjoy the outdoors like Brown's Island or Belle Isle that are great spots to walk, run, bike, or just enjoy the trails with James River and the city as the back-drop. There are many local book stores and shops in the city that are fun to check out. Once you find your neighborhood of Richmond, there are tons of things to do unique to each area and then there is Charlottesville an hour east (great wineries, The Monticello) and Williamsburg an hour west (Virginia's Historic Triangle is a fun day trip, Busch Gardens Williamsburg which has great coasters as well as holiday themed events during the fall and winter). Richmond is a great city that is small enough to feel like home, but big enough to explore and never do the same thing twice.

Fun fact about me:
I am a second Dan black belt in Taekwondo.