Although traditionally a weakness in the NYU training program, starting the Summer of 2004 Dr. Stephen Russell was appointed to develop the peripheral nerve surgery service for the department. NYU is now one the busiest peripheral nerve surgery centers in the tri-state area, performeding over 75 major nerve surgeries in the past 18 months, including approximately 20 brachial plexus repairs, 20 nerve sheath tumors, and 20 major nerve repairs of the extremities. Dr. Russell works in close collaboration with the plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery departments to provide patients with a multi-modality approach to treatment.

Dr. Stephen Russell graduated AOA from NYU School of Medicine, and subsequently completed the NYU/Bellevue neurosurgery training program in 2004. Dr Russell was the 2004 Van Wagenen fellow, during which time he completed subspecialty training in peripheral nerve surgery throughout Germany, as well as in New Orleans with Drs. Kline and Tiel at LSU. Dr. Russell has published over 30 manuscripts, a monograph on peripheral nerve examination techniques, and conducts molecular nerve regeneration research in Dr. Moses Chao's laboratory with both NIH/non-NIH funding.