graduate spotlight: cummings pursues lifelong dream of becoming a pharmacist

pharmacy graduate finds inspiration from mother to pursue dream job.

kim chaudoin | 05/10/2023

from the time jamessa cummings was 10 years old, she was dreaming about what she wanted to be when she grew up. 

she wanted to be a pharmacist. pretty specific career goal for a child that age. 

and, on saturday, may 6, cummings realized her dream — after years of dedication and hard work — as she received a doctorate of pharmacy degree and a master of management in healthcare degree at spring commencement.

this culminates a journey that began for cummings as a child growing up in a military family. her mother served in the u.s. army for 17 years as well as several close family members. she witnessed several family members grapple with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) that resulted from their time in the military. this experience fueled her passion to pursue her dream. 

“my mom suffered from depression and ptsd through her service but has always remained strong and resilient. i spent time going to the pharmacy with my mom and watching how the pharmacist counseled my mom on her medications,” recalls cummings. “i wanted a career where i can provide patients with the best care and with the medications that will help them live a healthy life." 

“my goals have evolved from wanting to help veterans to wanting to help everyone. i realized the impact that pharmacists had in the community and i wanted to do the same, which is why my pharm.d degree,” she continues. “i decided on the masters of management because i want to be in a position to make changes for the benefit of my patients and being in management will help make that a reality.”

cummings attended lipscomb as part of the veterans services program through the gi bill dependent benefits. she says she chose lipscomb as the place she wanted to continue her education because she believed it would be a place that supported her but also push her to “grow and evolve” to accomplish her goals. 

“i wanted a school that prioritized the community and faculty i could learn from who would expose me to different opportunities in pharmacy. my experience at lipscomb has been phenomenal,” says cummings. “i had the chance to be exposed to many other areas in pharmacy and i found the perfect place for me. i met faculty who shared and supported my passions and helped me discover different ways i could help my community. i am a stronger person and a better clinician because of the faculty and staff at the college of pharmacy.”

she credits her mother with instilling in her strength and determination that helped her pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist. and she has not looked back. 

“choosing pharmacy as a career has been the best decision i ever made. since starting school, i have been able to help countless people manage their medications better, have the tools and education to live a better and healthier life and know that their pharmacist cares about their health,” says cummings. “i hope that in the future — and know that i am now prepared to better support underserved populations and create better resources for patients.”

next up for cummings is her pharmacy graduate year one (pgy-1) pharmacy residency at bayhealth medical center in delaware in the ambulatory care setting managing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma.