Phil Harrop often points to his red hair as the reason behind his outlook on life. “I typically look to do things that others are not doing,” he said. A native of South Carolina, he was born and raised in the Mormon faith and enjoyed the fact that he “stuck out like a sore thumb” among his peers. Harrop’s soccer talents garnered interest from various universities, but he never thought twice about enrolling at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Siberia, and only wishes he could have stayed longer. Now, at 28, Harrop is the new executive director of the John Stoddard Cancer Center, a role that falls in line with his efforts to contribute to society in a meaningful way. He and his wife, Heidi, have two children – Oliver, 4, and Berkeley, 2 – and are expecting a third, a son, in August.

Were you raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

I was born and raised in the faith, and when I applied for school I didn’t apply anyplace but BYU. I played soccer and had offers from other places, but I didn’t even fill out the applications. I made that decision early on and really didn’t see any other option. Turns out it was a good decision because I met someone brave enough to marry me.

Why was that such an easy decision for you?

It wasn’t that everyone (in my family) goes there and you’ve gotta do it. My parents both met there and my in-laws met there, my uncle was the first first-team all-American football player for BYU back in the day, so I kind of feel like it was in the cards.

When you were younger, was it hard to handle being one of few Mormons among your peers?

I go against the grain and typically look to do things that others are not doing. That’s just the way I’m hard-wired. For some of my siblings, it was very difficult and I think they would have done better growing up in Utah or Arizona or California or Oregon or someplace where there’s a heavier concentration. I enjoyed it. Maybe that’s just the redhead in me.

What were some lessons learned during your two years as a missionary in Siberia?

The world is a lot bigger than us and our own interests. It was a really eye-opening experience to see that the world is a big place. I was intrigued with how similar I found the people to be in terms of desires. My experience and exposure to the Soviet Union was “Rocky IV” and things like that where it was a hostile, cold environment. I didn’t find that at all in Siberia. I was also a 19-year-old kid fending for myself. It forces you to grow up and participate as a functioning member of society.

Why did you choose to go into health-care administration?

While I was in Siberia, I translated for a visiting American cardiologist and helped secure some medical equipment and grants for a children’s hospital in Onsk. That was a great opportunity to be involved in health care to a degree, and I think that was the seed that was planted that helped me decide later on to pursue a career in health-care administration and hospitals specifically.

Has your work in oncology been intentional?

The honest answer is no. The reason I’m in oncology is because of an amazing opportunity that opened itself in Goshen, Ind., and one that continued in Des Moines, Iowa. My grandmother who I got my red hair from passed away from ovarian cancer when I was 9 years old. That was pretty much the first time I had to deal with anybody dying. So I can point to that and identify it as motivation for what I’m doing today, but I can’t point to that and say that’s why I got into it.

How do you intend to become involved in the community and your church?

My wife and I are co-chairing the first ever BYU alumni chapter in the state of Iowa. In Waukee, I love hanging out with the high school kids because I feel like others have given a lot of their time to help me out. It’s tough as a teenager. What are you going to do with the rest of your life? There are so many opportunities to get involved with things that aren’t appropriate and that really just tear down society and don’t build it up.

Has the thought of returning to mission work ever crossed your mind?

It has, and that is something that I think with limited opportunities might present itself on a more local basis versus global. I can think of Katrina and other instances where I would love to be able to take my own vacation time and contribute in meaningful ways such as that. I can envision toward the retirement years getting those opportunities in whatever capacity I would be needed. I’m actually talking my wife into that now. She thinks I’m crazy, but I’d love to spend our retirement years doing stuff like that.