David D. Markwardt, BA, BES, LAC, DC, MD

Dr. David D. Markwardt is a retired multi-disciplinary physician whose career reflects both academic excellence, as he graduated from St. Cloud State University with scholastic honors, and deep personal resilience. He began his educational journey at SCSU, graduating with honors in 1977 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and an Earth Science minor, followed by a Bachelor of Elective Studies in 1979 with a computer science minor. He began his medical training at Northwestern Health Sciences University, earning both his Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and acupuncture certification (LAc). Driven to broaden his clinical scope even further, he later earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from St. George’s University School of Medicine, graduating with strong academic standing.

Dr. Markwardt practiced for approximately a decade on the Central Oregon coast, where he established and built a chiropractic and acupuncture clinic that brought complementary and alternative medicine to a small-town community. After selling his successful practice and new clinic, he began his medical doctor training. He was accepted into his first-choice residency at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His ambitious goal was to become the first ever chiropractic medical interventional radiologist. However, military service-related health complications from his time stationed in Vietnam, including post-traumatic stress disorder, neurological effects linked to Agent Orange exposure, including Alzheimer's disease, and injuries sustained during the Cam Ranh Bay ammunition depot explosion, ultimately prevented him from completing his residency. Dr. Markwardt was strongly opposed to the war in Vietnam and marched in a 'Peace Parade' before being abducted by the US federal government, taken against his will and forced into military slavery. He completed basic training at Fort Bragg, NC and then was trained in helicopter maintenance, followed by helicopter crew chief training at Fort Rucker, AL. He ascended in rank from E0 as a civilian to E4 in less than 3 months, which many refuse to believe is possible, but Dr. Markwardt has his DD214, US Army discharge document, to prove his claim. After he completed his helicopter crew chief training, he was transferred to Ft. Hood, Texas where he went through MP (military police) training. He served most of a year at Fort Hood as an MP. Following his time at Ft. Hood, he was transferred to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam with the 630th MP Company, where he worked mostly defending Vietnamese women, children and all Vietnamese civilians from crimes committed by American military personnel. He flew as a helicopter crew chief twice while in Vietnam.

Now residing on a hobby ranch outside of Terrebonne, Oregon, Dr. Markwardt enjoys a quieter life centered on travel, reading, philanthropy and reflection. As a lifelong traveler, he has visited all 50 states and lived in 10 different states. He has visited more than 40 countries, has lived in 5 different countries on or near 4 different continents, and has been on 6 of the 7 continents (not yet Antarctica). He has downhill skied on four of the 7 continents before a severe ankle injury ended his downhill and cross-country skiing pursuits. His home overlooks the Cascade Mountains, including views of Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters Wilderness Peaks. He spends much of his time reading scientific literature so that he can continue to help people in need of up-to-date health care and as part of his commitment to maintaining cognitive health while living with Alzheimer’s disease. Throughout his life, he has also supported veterans’ causes, including notable donations to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) chapter in Bend, Oregon. Dr. Markwardt is a lifelong philanthropist by donating to charities, including children's charities, environmental charities, wildlife preservation charities, medical and other health care research charities and more.

• St. Cloud State University – BES Natural Sciences with Computer Science Minor 1979
• Northwestern Health Sciences University – LAC Acupuncture 1983
• St. Cloud State University – BA Environmental Studies 1977
• Northwestern Health Sciences University – Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) 1983
• St. George's University School of Medicine – M.D. 1997

• Northwestern Health Sciences University - Acupuncture Certificate -1983

• Scholastic Honors Graduate
• St. Cloud State University

• 5000 check to the disabled american veterans

November 10, 1995

St. George's University School of Medicine St. George, Grenada, West Indies.

Dear Dr. David D. Markwardt: The students, faculty, staff, and their spouses who were fortunate enough to become your patients in their time of need wish to express our immense gratitude and appreciation for your kind and caring therapeutic intervention in helping to restore our health and well-being. Your brilliance and ability as both a chiropractic physician and licensed acupuncturist helped numerous students in recovering from severe, disabling headaches, backaches, and many other ailments that would have made completion of our studies here at SGUSOM much more difficult and in some cases even impossible.

David, you gave and gave of yourself and asked nothing in return. We know that on more than one occasion, while in Grenada, you were awakened in the middle of the night on nights before major examinations to treat disabling headaches and on many other occasions your studies were disrupted to administer therapy to a student in pain. We wish you well in your attempt to become the first physician in the entire state of Oregon to hold both Doctor of Chiropractic and Medical Doctor degrees. As a collegiate scholastic honors graduate with four college degrees, you will be one of SGUSOM's most admired and valued alumni and we know that you will succeed at anything you attempt. Many of us who are your patients owe our continued presence here at SGUSOM to your altruistic nature and skillful capabilities - we can never repay your magnanimous generosity. David, you are truly "the wind beneath our wings".

Thank you very much.

Dr. Brian Huntsman and Dukja Chun are among the many patients of Dr. David D. Markwardt who contributed to this letter of appreciation. This letter of appreciation was presented to Dr. David D. Markwardt on 10 November 1995 at Kingstown Medical College (SGUSOM), Kingstown, St. Vincent, West Indies by and in the presence of his classmates, faculty and staff, including Professor Hans Baer, PhD.