Dr. David Russell is originally from St. Charles, Missouri. He completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1984, where he received a B.S. in Medical Sciences and Biology, graduating with honors. Dr. Russell received his dental degree from Southern Illinois University at Alton, Illinois in 1988. He went on to complete two one year hospital residencies, one at the University of Chicago, at the Walter Zoler Dental Clinic in Chicago, Illinois and the second at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. He continued on to complete a two year fellowship in Oral Implantolgy at Brookdate hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

He finished his training in a four year residency at the University of Missouri School of Dentistry and Truman Medical Center, receiving a certificate in the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Immediately completing his training, he moved his wife and two children to the Island of Kauai, Hawaii to start his business, Emerald Island Oral Facial Surgery, Inc. he has been in practice now for over 10 years and dedicated his practice to treating all of his patients from the heart. He incorporates holistic and traditional forms of healing in treating his patients.

His practice is dedicated to making his patients comfortable and relaxed. He has a deep understanding of how the mind works to produce fear which impedes healing. He is able to coach patients through their fears of surgery to make for a more enjoyable experience. His practice uses a combination of Reiki and meditation to help alleviate patient's fears of surgery. He is himself a Reiki Master with certification in yoga and meditation. He pulls on his own personal experiences of healing to heal others.

He is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, holds hospital privileges at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue, Hawaii and Kauai Veteran Memorial Hospital, Waimea, Hawaii. He is a past Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow.