Paul Christian Cockrum was born in Perry, OK to Chris and Earline Cockrum. He graduated with honors from OU College of Pharmacy in 1993 and went on to obtain his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio and Austin in 1995. Between 1995-1997 he trained at the University of South Carolina in a 2-year post-doc fellowship. Thereafter, he finished this fellowship training at Novartis Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey. He obtained employment at Parke-Davis Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan and from there moved his family of 5 to Ft. Worth, TX where he has worked in R&D and was recently promoted to the clinical manager of phase IV studies. Since 1993, Paul has practiced in the community setting and maintained strong ties to the COP through his mentoring of students and volunteer work with the Alumni Association.

Paul and his wife, Shelly, reside outside of Fort Worth and enjoy motorcycling when they're not spending time with their three children, Carley, Clay, & Curt.