Kim Russell is the chief executive officer of Westlake Hills Surgery Center. She is also an athlete, a four-times world champion gold medalist in racquetball, an animal rescuer, a mother of two girls and a leader in the industry. 

Russell received her bachelor of arts in nursing from the University of Kentucky, followed by her master of science in anesthesia from the University of Tennessee, while also competing for 17 years on the U.S. racquetball team and winning a silver and bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 2015.  

 She retired from competitive racquetball in 2016, but not before being ranked number one in the U.S. in doubles. Her love of competitive sports likely built the foundation of her leadership style as CEO. In her own words, she has always been a positive person, starting the day alongside her Westlake team with a joke. She does know, however, that there can be off days, in sports, life and beyond. “It’s all okay,” she says. “Just keep chipping away, starting at the top, and just go from there.”

Her practice started as she became a reliable, trusted resource in her industry. “It just snowballed,” as she puts it. Russell operates only one of two facilities of their kind in Texas and in the country (the other being in Oklahoma). 

Looking ahead, Russell sees a future for her center that incorporates multi-specialties. She also sees the ASC industry giving consumers an affordable option to outpatient care and points to the fact that patients have a lower risk of exposure to infectious disease.   

She offers this advice to young people considering entering the field: “Do what you love…because everything you wish for will follow. It’s not about money and profits. Discover your path, and pursue it, as the rate of return isn’t measured in dollars and cents but what you believe in. Give it your all, and what comes after will come naturally.”