From Physical Therapy to a Scholarship Legacy: The Life and Impact of Samuel “Eric” Storm

Looking back on Samuel “Eric” Storm’s life, he was always focused on helping people. A native of Brookhaven, Eric saw early on how important community was when his father passed away when he was a young boy.

Samuel “Eric” Storm with his wife, Kathy, and children

“Brookhaven, of course, is where he always considered home,” his wife, Kathy explained. “One thing he always talked about was that the community there, they just really embraced them and took him in. A lot of the men in the church and community took him under their wing and helped raise him.”

There, Eric was first exposed to the world of physical therapy, mentored by a prominent PT in the area. At Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, only a few years later, Eric first got a taste of working in the medical field. As the basketball team manager, he found himself taping ankles and treating injuries.

“That’s where he realized he liked taking care of injuries, making sure that they’re at their best selves and that they recover well. That’s where he changed his career path to physical therapy,” Kathy said.

After graduating from the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School for Health-Related Professions, he began his physical therapy career at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, followed by roles of increasing responsibility at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. The experience gained in these hospitals laid the foundation for Eric and some of his closest colleagues to venture outside of the hospital environment and start their own business in 1993, founding Genesis Physical Therapy Clinic. For 30 years, the business grew and opened multiple clinics throughout central Mississippi.  Eric retired as a partner in 2023 and the business continues to this day.

Several years ago, the Storm family learned Eric had cancer. Knowing the situation was serious, Kathy started thinking of a way to honor his legacy. Eric had dedicated his life to helping others as a physical therapist, and Kathy was determined to continue that work even after he was gone.

“I started thinking about just something that we could do, just to remember, because I knew it was a serious situation,” Kathy recalled. She knew her humble husband would be hesitant about drawing attention to himself. After careful consideration, Kathy approached Eric about establishing a scholarship fund for physical therapy students. Eric agreed, but with one stipulation – he wanted to expand the scholarship to include occupational and speech therapy students. Those professions, he felt, worked so closely together that they deserved equal recognition.

Kathy was touched by Eric’s thoughtfulness, even in the face of his own health challenges. It was just like him to think of others before himself.

With Eric’s blessing, Kathy set out to turn her idea into a reality, creating the Samuel “Eric” Storm Memorial Scholarship at the Community Foundation for Mississippi. The response from the community, she says, was overwhelming. As news of the scholarship fund spread, the fund was flooded with donations from former patients, colleagues, and friends whose lives Eric had touched.

“It’s been very healing to me and our kids in seeing this happen and come to fruition,” Kathy said. Their own daughter is now in occupational therapy school, and she is thrilled to be able to share this opportunity with her classmates.

The scholarship is now open for its first application cycle, and the selection committee will select a recipient for a $2,500 award for one academic year. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025. Kathy says the selection committee, comprised of long-time friends and business partners, is excited to read through applications and make their first award.

“He was the kind of person that just made a big impact,” Kathy reflected. “If you’re going to therapy, or you have to spend a lot of time at a time when you’re very vulnerable, you get very close to those helping you achieve your goals. I believe a lot of people connect with him because of the type of life that he lived. He would probably not believe what has happened.”
Click here to support the Samual “Eric” Storm Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Samual “Eric” Storm Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing an advanced degree in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Speech Therapy. Applications are open to anyone admitted to or attending an accredited program in these fields. The applicant selected will receive a $2,500 award for one academic year. Click here to learn more and view the application. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025.