Dr. Steve Macko: From Boy Scout to business owner

Steve Macko got interested in medicine as a kid. While he wasn’t initially focused on being a doctor, he said it made sense to him.

“It just seemed like a good fit,” Macko said. “In high school, I was in Boy Scouts and I always liked when we’d do medical-oriented things like visit nursing homes and set up water tents at races.”

Macko’s first “real job” was emergency medical technician in Alburquerque. Later, he graduated from the medical school at the University of New Mexico, where he also got his bachelor’s degree, and became a physician.

In 2006 Macko partnered with Andrew Schatzki and Kyle Stoeckmann to open Agave Family Physicians. He cites their longevity and business makeup as factors in their success.

“We’ve been here a lot longer than the other practices,” Macko said. “All three of us have been in the area for at least 10 years, so we know what the community needs. Also, we’re the owners, so there’s no bureaucracy or corporate structure to deal with.”

Much like Maricopa, the practice has grown significantly in recent years, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had its rough patches.

“The toughest part was having to learn the business side of things,” Macko said. “Owning a medical practice is an enormous challenge. The policies and regulations are constantly changing, so we have to continually educate ourselves, our staff and our patients.”

His favorite part of practicing in Maricopa is the personal attention he’s able to give patients. He also appreciates Maricopa’s geography.

“Maricopa is a great place for me because it’s an opportunity to practice more rural medicine, which is what I was trained in, while still having the hospitals and resources close enough if we need them,” Macko said.

These days, when Macko isn’t busy checking up on patients, he spends time with his wife and two children.

“I spend as much time with them as I can. I wish I could spend more time with them, but I think they understand,” Macko said. “I’m thankful for my family. They’ve made a lot of sacrifices for me so I could do this.”

PERSONAL

Family: Wife, 11-year-old daughter, 9-year-old son

Hometown: Roswell, NM

Current residence: Chandler

Education: University of New Mexico; residency in Tacoma.

Hobbies: Backpacking, tennis and woodworking

Car: A Volvo, which I think says a lot about me.

Currently reading: The Harry Potter books to my kids.

Dream dinner companions: Novak Djokovic, President Obama and my wife.

I wish I was … 30 again.