Hello. I’m Michael Smiley, and I’m here today to speak in support of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
After earning my bachelor’s degree in 2001 I attended Medical School at Saint Louis University and earned my degree in medicine in 2005. After my first year of medical school I commissioned in the Navy as part of a scholarship program. I had pre-exisitng loans from my 1st year of Medical School and Undergraduate degree and despite the military scholarship, it did not cover all necessary expenses to attend. My wife was also in graduate school during this time pursuing her Masters in Social Work.
After med school graduation I served on Active Duty with the Navy for 14 years from 2005 to 2019. I then joined the Air Force Reserves in 2019 and continue to serve in that regard. Throughout my entire time in the Navy, my wife I were trying to figure out how to manage our student loan debt as she had to give up her career due to our frequent moves; we PCS’ed 8 times from 2005 to 2019.
I first learned about PSLF around 2014, but when I inquired about the program my loan servicer told me that I couldn’t utilize the program because I had FFEL loans. Every time I reached out to ask questions, no one explained that I could consolidate my loans into Direct loans to make use of the program. They just said that I didn’t have the right type of loans to be eligible. This deceitful practice by the student loan servicers has been well documented and reported on.
Finally, in early 2021, I heard a story driving into work on NPR that informed me I could qualify for forgiveness through the PSLF waiver. After well over 10 years of qualifying employment, I consolidated my loans and applied for PSLF. Unfortunately, I ran into challenges getting my military service counted correctly as the Department of Education was not accepting the DD-214 as proof of military employment. I had to be very persistent in order to get my Employment Certification approved. In March of 2022, after many check-ins and with help from the ombudsman, I was notified that I would be receiving forgiveness.
During this time I joined a Facebook group for people who were working towards PSLF where I encountered many veterans having similar issues getting their military service counted. I worried about people who lacked the rank I had or who were less persistent or informed than I was. Since then, I’ve helped numerous fellow veterans navigate PSLF program to get the loan discharge they are entitled to and they have told me how important public service loan forgiveness is for military families.
I currently work as a pediatric residency director at a children’s hospital. There is a national shortage of Pediatricians which is multifactorial; however, the combination of medical school debt and being in a lower paying field are major contributors. The PSLF program has been cited by many residents as a factor in their decision to pursue their interest in pediatrics and accept lower paying jobs after residency. PSLF qualifying jobs pay less than their private counerparts. Elimination or significant changes in this program will only exacerbate the current pediatrician shortage our country is experiencing.
Throughout my career, I have worked alongside many dedicated public servants who have benefited from PSLF. The impact of the PSLF program is massive, particularly for veterans and service members, and I urge you to continue administering this valuable program and streamlining the experience for people who are trying to navigate it. Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments.
Michael Smiley Remarks 5.1.25.docx