I live in West Tennessee with my daughter Mia, who is a nurse, a stroke survivor, and an avid one-handed crocheter. My son Cameron, a performance coach, author, and motivator, resides four hours away in Chattanooga, TN.

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I began my healthcare journey as a private duty nurse in the historic river towns of Westchester County, New York, back in 1982, providing bedside care for those in need. However, six years later, when I returned to my home state of Tennessee, I discovered my true passion for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

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I love spending my evenings crocheting with Mia, something she thought she would never be able to do again. However, two years after the stroke, she applied small change principles to master crocheting with her non-dominant left hand and knee, and we reopened our online Etsy shop, MandMCrochetforU

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Health Promotion Career Highlights:​

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• Educated thousands of individuals on the benefits of adopting healthy lifestyle changes

• Facilitated health promotion training for health professionals, community stakeholders, civic groups, and leaders of faith-based organizations

• Managed national Health Promotion Programs aimed at reducing health disparities:

• The CDC’s Planned Approach To Community Health Program (PATCH)

• The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH programs aimed at reducing health disparities 

• Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) programs aimed at enhancing access to quality health care by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals in marginalized communities

• Managed Tennessee Department of Health -West Tennessee Regional Health Promotion Department aimed at protecting, promoting, and improving the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. 

I have written  a small change health education column for a weekly newspaper since 2005 

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EDUCATION:

 

• M.A., Counseling, 1995 Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN

• B.A., Psychology, 1987 College Mt. St. Vincent, Bronx, NY

• Diploma, Practical Nursing, 1982, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY    
   

LICENSES/Certificates:
 

• Certified Life Coach, Fowler Wainwright International, 2010

• Multistate, Licensed Practical Nurse, 1982 - current
   

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

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• 2003 Graduate, Southeast Public Health Institute, University North Carolina, Raleigh, NC

• 2004 Graduate, Interfaith Health Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
   

COMPETENCIES:

 

• Organizing/Coordination

• Time Management

• Management/Leadership

• Connectedness- Linking people to resources

• Relator –Systematically identifying patterns in processes, data, facts, relationships, etc. to solve problems

• Learner –Insight into why things happen and the ability to seek viable solutions

• Maximizer –Focus on the individual's strengths to stimulate personal growth and development

• Individualization –Identify the individual's unique qualities 
   

CONTINUING EDUCATION:
 

1. 2010, “Accepting the Challenges in Public Health,” 4.0  Contact Hours

2. 2009, Building Healthy Communities, .78 CEUs

3. 2009, Social Media Revolution, 3.0 Contact Hours

4. 2009, Continuing Nursing Education. 6.75 Contact Hours

5. 2008, Title VI Training, 3.0 Contact Hours

6. 2007, “Social Marketing and Breast Cancer Prevention,” 7.5 CEUs

7. 2007,  “African American Women and Breast Cancer,” 5.0 CEUs

8. 2004 Trainee, "Hiring for Diversity," 0.1 CEUs 

9. 2004 Trainee, “Avoiding Pitfalls As Managers,” 0.8 CEUs

10. 2003, “Bioterrorism:  Advanced Topics on Medical Defense Against Nerve Agents,” 2.0 Contact Hours

11. 2003, “Model Interventions & Alternative Therapies in Chronic Disease Management,” 15.5 Contact hours; 1.55 CEUs

12. 2003, Adolescent Health Curriculum, 6.0 Contact Hours

13. 2003 Trainee, “Productive Meetings:  Healthy Communities,”  6.0 Contact Hours

14. 2002 Tennessee Nurses Association, 7.2 Contact Hours

15. 2002 “School Health:  Bringing Health & Education Together,” 6.0 Contact Hours

16. 2001 Trainee, “Effective Training Techniques,” 0.6 CEUs

17. 2001 “Family Planning,” 10.0 Contact Hours

18. 2000, “Working Magic in the Lives of Our Clients,” 3.0 CEUs

19. 2000 Trainee, “Managing Performance - Supervisor,” 3.6 CEUs

20. 2000 Trainee, “Performance Evaluation,” 0.3 CEUs

21. 2000 Trainee, “Organizational Policies and Practices in Supervision,” 0.9 CEUs

22. 1998  “Marketing Public Health,” 6.0 Contact Hours

23. 1995 Trainee, “Facilitator Training,” 1.4 CEUs

24. 1995 Trainee, “Foundations of Continuous Quality Improvement,” 1.6 CEUs

25. 1994 Trainee, “Creating Satisfied Customers,” 1.4 CEUs
     

AWARDS/HONORS:
 

• “Best Team Spirit” Award, 2002, Tennessee Department of Health

• Managing Performance Trainer Award, 2001, Tennessee Department of Personnel

• West Star Leadership Program “Outstanding Leadership” Award, 1995, University of Tennessee 1994, West Star Board of Trustees

• NAACP “Community Leadership” Award, 1992,

• Centers for Disease Control, “Outstanding Community Leaders” Award, 1992

• WJO Lee Elks Lodge, “Community Leaders” Award, 1991
   

PUBLICATIONS:
 

• Russell, Myrtle D. and Russell, Cameron T. small change: a 28 guide to eating, thinking, and feeling healthier. 2005

• Russell, Myrtle D. Free Your Mind and the Best Will Follow. 2012

• Russell, Myrtle D. and Russell, Cameron T., small change: BIG RESULTS, The Trainer's Guide to Eliminating Childhood Obesity With Sports, 2012 

• Russell, Myrtle D. and Russell, Mia B., The Stroke That Touched My Heart, 2019

• Russell, Myrtle D. and Russell, Mia B., The Stroke That Touched My Heart Gratitude Journal, 2019

• Russell, Myrtle D, The Habits Code: The Art of Mastering Your Domain, 2023