Dr. Russell Wagner’s legacy at JPS Health Network is one of skill, service, and selfless mentorship that has shaped the future of orthopaedic medicine in Fort Worth.
Joining JPS in 1997, Dr. Wagner spent nearly three decades on the medical staff, serving as Program Director of the JPS Orthopaedic Residency for 18 years. In that time, he trained and mentored more than 80 orthopaedic surgeons, many of whom continue to serve patients in North Texas today. His leadership helped grow the residency program and set a standard of excellence and compassion that defined JPS Orthopaedics.
Colleagues remember Dr. Wagner as an individual who helped shape the culture of the program.
“When I got to meet him, I fell in love with the guy,” said Dr. Brian Webb, Orthopaedic Chair, Musculoskeletal Division at JPS. “He was just so welcoming and just a very caring gentleman. That fatherly figure is a big reason a lot of residents and faculty came here.”
Dr. Bryan Ming, Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon, Program Director, Orthopaedic Residency, who succeeded Dr. Wagner as Program Director, said Wagner was instrumental in both his career and his personal life.
"The bar has really been raised because of him. Our residents know how to operate, they know how to care for patients, and they treat people the right way."
“Dr. Wagner is the reason I’m at JPS,” Dr. Ming said. “He recruited me here and kept me afloat when times were tough, starting my career. He taught me not only how to take care of patients and operate, but also how to balance that with taking care of my family. He really showed me that those things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Dr. Ming recalled a pivotal moment during residency when he learned he would soon become a father.
“I’ll never forget during my third year of residency when my wife and I learned that we were expecting our first child. I was overwhelmed with the pressure of continuing my residency, achieving success, and being a good father,” said Dr. Ming. “One night, I ran into Dr. Wagner in the kitchen. We ended up talking for over an hour. He shared invaluable insights about what a career in orthopaedic surgery truly entails, emphasized the importance of being a good father, and offered guidance on how to find balance in life. I was extremely grateful for that.”
Dr. Wagner’s approach to care was unmatched. He was service- oriented and always ensured he provided the best possible care, even in difficult cases.
“He never turned down a patient, he never turned down a case,” Dr. Webb said. “He took on what came in the door and did the best work. That set the standard for all of us to follow.”
Dr. Wagner’s leadership extended beyond the operating room to the culture of residency training.
“He was the type of leader you could learn incredible technical skills from, but also be vulnerable with,” Dr. Ming said. “He kept us accountable, pushed us to be our best, and always reminded us that it was going to be okay. In many ways, he felt like a father to all of us.”
Beyond his surgical skill, Dr. Wagner was a man of faith who carried that into his daily work.
“He is a man of God. When he came to work, he knew he was doing the Lord’s work,” Dr. Webb said. “His office door was always open. We would chat lots of times about issues with patients or frustrations in life, and he was always there to listen.”
His influence also extended to the way he trained residents, giving them both confidence and autonomy. Dr. Webb shared a memory of the first time he operated alongside him.
“He handed me the knife and said, ‘Let’s go.’ He walked me through every step, making sure I was comfortable and learning. That kind of graduated autonomy set me up to be the surgeon I am today.”
Dr. Wagner’s legacy lives on in thousands of patients he treated, from trauma victims to those suffering from severe arthritis, and in the generations of surgeons he trained.
“He probably trained 75 percent of the orthopaedic surgeons here in Fort Worth,” Dr. Webb said. “The bar has really been raised because of him. Our residents know how to operate, they know how to care for patients, and they treat people the right way. A lot of that has to do with what Dr. Wagner ingrained in us.”
His influence continues to resonate in the culture of the residency program, in the lives of the patients he cared for, and in the generations of surgeons who carry forward his standards of compassion, faith, and excellence.