South College selects Dr. Timothy M. Smith as School of Pharmacy Dean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 7, 2025

South College has selected Dr. Timothy M. Smith, a South College longtime associate professor, as the School of Pharmacy’s new dean.

Smith, who earned his PharmD at the University of Tennessee in 1990 and has been an associate professor at South College since 2012 and has experience both as a pharmacy owner in Knoxville and as a leader in the pharmaceutical industry.

“Dr. Smith has demonstrated his commitment to his profession and has a firsthand understanding of the responsibility of leading the School of Pharmacy,” South College Chancellor Steve South said. “His experience in medical settings, as a pharmacy owner and in the classroom combine to make him an excellent choice to lead the School in an ever-changing landscape in healthcare and delivery of pharmaceutical care.”

Smith, who has served as interim dean since July, became the official dean in November. In 2010, he founded P3 Pharmacy and has served as a preceptor for South College students taking rotations in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE). He also is a resident practice site coordinator for postgraduate year one (PGY-1) pharmacy residents and served as the South College Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ faculty representative to the dean since 2019.

“Becoming dean of the South College School of Pharmacy is not something I set out to do after earning my degree, but it does bring me full circle to where it all started,” Smith said. “I am committed to the continued success of the School of Pharmacy and ensuring that our graduates are prepared for innovations and changes in every pharmaceutical field from research to community care to operations. I know how challenging and rewarding this profession can be, and I am eager to work with our faculty, staff and students as we move forward.”

Prior to earning his PharmD, Smith received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville in 1986. His lengthy professional experience includes director of pharmacy positions at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville. He is a member of the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and earned Tennessee Health-System Pharmacist of the Year in 2004.

Smith succeeds retiring dean Dr. William M. Gentry, who became dean in 2018 following the retirement of Dr. Walter L. Fitzgerald Jr., the founding dean of the South College School of Pharmacy.

“Dr. Gentry has elevated the School of Pharmacy during his successful tenure as dean and led initiatives to increase academic and professional opportunities and adapt through innovation from navigating a pandemic to offering a hybrid path to a PharmD with on-campus and online courses,” South said. “He has earned his retirement, and we wish Dr. Gentry all the best.”

South College offers an accelerated PharmD program to earn a doctoral degree in three years instead of the traditional four. Visit south.edu/pharmacy to learn more about the accelerated program.

South College offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE.

To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.

About South College

South College serves more than 14,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.

South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.