Veterinary management expert Roger Cummings, CVPM, dies

Roger Franklin Cummings, CVPM, a former editorial advisory board member for Veterinary Economics and Firstline magazines, died Friday, July 9, of natural causes. He lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Cummings, 57, was a longtime supporter of the veterinary profession, serving as a consultant with the Brakke Practice Management Group in Dallas and as a former president of the VetPartners consultant organization. He was also a frequent speaker at veterinary conferences before retiring from consulting several years ago.

"Roger was one of the earliest veterinary practice management consultants; he recognized the need before most people did,” says Dr. Karen Felsted, CPA, MS, CVPM, a fellow former Veterinary Economics and Firstline advisory board member and Brakke consultant who's now CEO of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. “I've never heard a bad word said about him. In addition to being a great consultant, he was just a really nice guy. Always willing to help people, act as a mentor, answer questions-whatever. He will be missed."

Among his numerous professional accomplishments, Cummings was:

> A founding member of the Veterinary Leadership Group

> A member of the first class that graduated from the AAHA Veterinary Management Institute at Purdue University

> Recipient of the 2010 VetPartners Pioneer Professional Award (past recipients include Donald Dooley, CVPM, and Dr. Ross Clark)

> Recipient of the 2006 Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's Ralph Duke Award

> The 1992 Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's Practice Manager of the Year.