Provider Bio
Russell Saari, PA-C, is a provider at Livingston HealthCare. He was born in Caldwell, Idaho and grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado. Saari's academic pursuits were as diverse as his military career and include Bachelor's Degrees in psychology and medical science, a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, a Master's of Physician Assistant Science in Family Practice Medicine, and a Fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery. He enjoys engaging in continuing medical education activities in the field of orthopedics and its complementary disciplines.
Saari’s orthopedic career has encompassed 28 years with the United States Navy, both stateside as well as tours to Africa and Afghanistan. Saari says orthopedics is a field that is especially interesting to him because “I like to know and see how things work. I enjoy fixing things. The difference between fixing fighter jets and people is that jets merely spit out data, while the connection with people is much more satisfying.”
All the same, Saari still enjoys tinkering with motors and takes particular pride in rebuilding suspensions such as his off road 4x4 rock crawler. “There’s less at stake with machines, but it’s not as rewarding,” he adds.
Saari and his wife of 30 years, (who is also his high school sweetheart), were especially drawn to Livingston because they both feel more at home in a small community. Saari says a small town reminds him somewhat of the environment in the military in which relationships were cultivated by proximity. “You see people beyond just the work environment – the community becomes part of you,” he says.