Robert Cummings and Rachel Cummings
Doctor of Pharmacy
Class of Spring 2011
Savannah Campus

“If I didn’t understand something, she did; and if she didn’t understand it, I did.”

When South University celebrated its graduates at commencement this year, the School of Pharmacy’s Class of 2011 included a first for the School: a brother-sister pair who both earned their doctoral degrees on the same day. 

Being students together was nothing new for Robert and Rachel Cummings, who were in some of the same science classes at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. But in pharmacy school, they had almost every class together — and shared an apartment.

“It was nice to have someone to live with and study with who I knew so well,” says Robert, who is a year older than Rachel. “And it always seemed to work out that if I didn’t understand something, she did; and if she didn’t understand it, I did.”

But the Cummings siblings, who were both born in Atlanta and grew up in a series of towns across southern Georgia, did much more at South University than just study.

There was a Cummings involved in almost every student organization. Robert was class president one year, president of Rho Chi (pharmacy’s academic honor society), secretary of both the Pharmacy Student Leadership Council and Phi Lambda Sigma (the national pharmacy leadership society), and active in the American Pharmacists Association (AphA).

Not to be outdone by her older brother, Rachel was class secretary for two years, and president of Pharmacy Student Leadership Council. She was also a member of Phi Lambda Sigma, Rho Chi, the Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International, and Kappa Epsilon (the professional pharmacy fraternity).

It might seem logical to assume the Cummings would go into pharmacy, considering their mother is a pharmacist. But the influence was not always that straightforward.

“When I was young, I’m not even sure I knew that my mom had a job,” admits Rachel, who now works at a Wal-Mart pharmacy in Valdosta. But with a pharmacist mother and a father who was a music director, and later a minister, helping others was definitely in the blood.

“I knew early on that pharmacy was for me,” says Robert, who works at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. “My mother was a big influence, and I always enjoyed science.”

Rachel liked science too, and knew early on that she wanted to be in the medical field, but nearly broke the family mold – by flirting with dental school. In the end, she chose compounding over cavities, and the siblings applied to pharmacy schools at the same time.

Rachel and Robert both interviewed at South University on the same day. They knew immediately that South University was for the Cummings.

South University announced today that Curtis Jones, Ph.D., R.Ph., has been appointed Dean of the School of Pharmacy and will oversee pharmacy programs in Georgia and South Carolina. As Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Jones reports to the South University Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Dr. Steven Yoho.

Dr. Jones has been with the School of Pharmacy since 2003 when he was appointed Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and he served in that capacity until 2007. During that period he also continued research focusing on drug delivery to brain tumors, hemostasis, and more recently in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds.  In 2007, Dr. Jones was promoted to Associate Dean for Administration and Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and most recently served as the Campus Dean for the School of Pharmacy in Savannah, overseeing daily operations in administration and academic affairs for the School. 

“Dr. Jones brings the highest qualities to the position of Dean of the School of Pharmacy,” said Dr. Yoho. “He is a well known researcher with the expertise, knowledge and scientific curiosity to advance his field, he is an experienced educator who consistently seeks to improve the level of curriculum and instruction and he is a proven leader within the pharmacy sector who is focused on providing his students with excellence in education that will prepare them for a life of learning and growth.” 

Dr. Jones is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Jones has more than 22 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist, development scientist in the pharmaceutical industry and pharmacy educator. He holds multiple patents and has published extensively in the areas of chronic wound care and drug delivery. Dr. Jones is a 2011 graduate of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic Leadership Fellows Program.

 For more information about South University’s School of Pharmacy, visit http://www.southuniversity.edu/pharmacy.

 About the School of Pharmacy

The South University School of Pharmacy was founded in 2003 and was the first new pharmacy school founded in the state of Georgia since 1903 and is one of just four such schools in the State of Georgia. Students attending the South University School of Pharmacy can complete the program in an accelerated, full-time 12-quarter schedule, beginning their career nearly a full year in advance of their peers. South University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is one of a few ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs in the country to offer an accelerated curriculum.

 Programmatic Accreditation

South University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603.Telephone: 312.664.3575, Fax: 312.664.4652, www.acpeaccredit.org.

 About South University

Established in 1899, South University (www.southuniversity.edu) is a private, accredited, academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers over 50 degree programs across its 15 campuses located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of South University. OH Registration # 11-07-1971T; Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2987.

See suprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important information.