Captain Phillip Markey

Phillip had applied to many schools when deciding where he wanted to attend college. He chose SVSU because of the scholarship support he received. Because of his high academic performance in high school, Phillip earned SVSU’s President's Scholarship, which covers tuition.

Receiving the President's scholarship meant that Phillip could focus on school without worrying about how to pay for it, which allowed him to put more energy into academics and relevant extracurricular experiences that prepared him for his future and deepened his interest in medicine. Chief among his experiences were a four-year biochemical research co-op position at Dow that covered his basic living expenses such as rent and food, and a research opportunity with SVSU professor Jason Scott, studying the impact of diet on cardiovascular disease.

“My research experiences set me up to think in an inquisitive and less concrete way. I am a better doctor because I can think critically about the patient information I receive.”

Beyond academics, involvement in SVSU’s Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity chapter and the Health Professions Association provided leadership opportunities – “first steps” for the future Army officer. And a study abroad experience to Ireland, Scotland and England gave Phillip early practice acclimating to new places. After graduation, this worked in his favor when he moved several times while in medical school at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, outside of Washington DC.

Now…

Phillip is currently doing his specialty training (residency) in family medicine at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia. After he completes his medical training in 2025, Phillip will serve in the military, representing the third generation of his family to do so.

While he was accepted to several medical school programs, Phillip “liked the camaraderie at Uniform Services University — everyone has a shared goal of service to medicine as well as service to the country.” Phillip has also come to value USU’s unique training that prepares doctors to work in virtually any kind of environment, combat and otherwise.

“We do combat medicine training exercises and learn how to do medicine in an austere environment where you might not have all of the medications that you want or all of the supplies that you need”.

Phillip is married to his high school sweetheart and fellow Cardinal, Jessica, who works for the Department of Defense. She holds a master’s in forensic and legal psychology. They have a six-month-old daughter.

The impact of Phillip’s undergraduate scholarship on his life after SVSU is not lost on him:

“My scholarship was legitimately one of the BEST things that has ever happened to me. I'm years ahead of my peers financially, and I owe a large part of that to my college scholarship. Not having student debt has allowed me to focus on my future. It allowed me to save for a wedding earlier, be able to have kids earlier, invest more and enjoy my lifestyle more.”

Forever…

Phillip is on the cusp of the next chapter in his life -- fulfilling his seven-year commitment to the armed services in exchange for his medical school education.

In the face of a growing national shortage of physicians, Phillip’s medical expertise will also one day help fill a provider gap in his own community.   

However, Phillip admits he might not have gone to medical school if he had had undergraduate student loan debt.

Phillip's story demonstrates how scholarships can help students succeed, not only while attending school, but beyond. When graduates start their post-SVSU life with less stress and student loan burden they can contribute to the health of their communities more quickly by taking on leadership roles, purchasing homes, starting families, and pursuing additional educational and work opportunities.

Note: Donors to the General Scholarship Fund as well as the Unrestricted Fund contribute to SVSU’s merit-based university scholarships, like the President’s Scholarship, supporting deserving students like Phillip.