Destiny Pounds
Nashville
Summary
Data scientist with 10 years of professional experience spanning education, research, and applied data science. Skilled in Python, SQL, and R with a foundation in machine learning, bias mitigation, and healthcare applications. Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights through data analysis and visualization. Adept at developing equitable AI solutions and collaborating across interdisciplinary teams to drive innovation in various settings.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Aim-Ahead Bridge2AI-CC Scholar
Aim-Ahead Consortium
01.2025 - 09.2025
- Selected as one of 30 professionals committed to applying AI/ML to benefit underserved communities through data-informed decision-making.
- Completed rigorous coursework in statistical and computational analysis with emphasis on multi-modal healthcare data, model development, and equitable algorithm design.
- Conducted research using data-driven methods across structured EHRs, waveform vitals, and cohort-level variables to address barriers to early disease detection.
- Engaged with a multidisciplinary network across the Aim-Ahead and Bridge2AI consortiums to design and validate models for clinical decision support.
- Leveraged the growing CHoRUS dataset for real-time analysis of health outcomes, contributing to scalable AI solutions for acute care settings.
Beacon of Hope Fellow | Modeling & Simulation, PK Sciences, Translational Medicine
Novartis Biomedical Research
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Selected as one of eight fellows for the Beacon of Hope Biomedical Research Graduate Fellowship, a competitive 10-week program designed to provide early graduate and medical students with hands-on training in industry research and development.
- Conducted a high-throughput physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling project evaluating how drug properties (lipophilicity and permeability) influence pharmacokinetics across 1815 compound variants.
- Applied non-compartmental analysis (NCA) to quantify drug distribution and exposure across different tissues and blood, contributing to a predictive framework for early-stage drug development.
- Collaborated with mentors and scientists on visualization pipeline for compound variant analysis, culminating in a lightning presentation and poster session for cross-functional Novartis audience.
Graduate Research Assistant
Meharry Medical College
12.2023 - 05.2025
- Developed educational modules on trustworthy AI for K-12 educators.
- Created Python notebooks that demonstrate bias detection and mitigation techniques using AIF360.
- Conducted policy reviews on the use of AI in healthcare.
- Conducted literature reviews to support ongoing research projects and identify emerging trends in healthcare AI.
- Applied frameworks to identify, quantify, and address algorithmic bias in healthcare datasets using open-source tools.
- Collaborated with faculty to design experiments, refining methodologies for enhanced research outcomes.
Secondary Science Educator
South Pike School District
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Designed instructional materials and assessments for 100+ students across physical, remote, and hybrid settings.
- Built systems for tracking performance data, achieving a 30% improvement in student outcomes through data-driven methods.
- Adapted presentations for diverse audiences to enhance understanding and engagement.
Education
Ph.D. - Biomedical Data Science
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN01.2028
Master of Science - Biomedical Data Science
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN01.2025
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS01.2017
Skills
- Data analysis and automation using Python, R, and SQL
- Data management proficiency
- SQL querying and data integration
- Predictive analytics proficiency
- Machine learning techniques
- Algorithmic bias analysis
- Data visualization design
- Agile collaboration in research
- Workflow optimization using AI
- AI model development for healthcare
Affiliations
- Women in Technology Tennessee, member
- Nashville Technology Council, member
- American Medical Informatic Association, member
- Mississippi Association of Educators, member
Timeline
Beacon of Hope Fellow | Modeling & Simulation, PK Sciences, Translational Medicine
Novartis Biomedical Research
06.2025 - 08.2025
Aim-Ahead Bridge2AI-CC Scholar
Aim-Ahead Consortium
01.2025 - 09.2025
Graduate Research Assistant
Meharry Medical College
12.2023 - 05.2025
Secondary Science Educator
South Pike School District
01.2019 - 01.2023
Ph.D. - Biomedical Data Science
Meharry Medical College
Master of Science - Biomedical Data Science
Meharry Medical College
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Jackson State University
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- Wang, H.; Pounds, D.; et al. Early Sepsis Prediction Using Publicly Available Data: High-Performance AI/ML Models with First-Hour Clinical Information. Diagnostics 2025, 15, 2727. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15212727
- [Poster] Pounds, D., Gupta, V. (Nov 2025). Predicting self-reported stress and affective states using wearable sensor data. AMIA Annual Symposium, Atlanta, GA. November 15-19, 2025.
- [Oral and Poster] Pounds, D., Khera, E., Ha, G., Lee, M. (Aug 2025). A Compound Property-Driven Framework for Predicting Pharmacokinetics Using High-Throughput PBPK Modeling. Novartis Beacon of Hope Fellow Showcase. August 6, 2025.
- [Oral and Poster] Pounds, D., et al. (July 2025). Derivation and validation of an EHR-based AI/ML model for early sepsis prediction in clinical practice. AIM-AHEAD Annual Conference, Dallas, TX. July
- [Oral] Pounds, D., et al. (May 2025). Derivation and validation of an EHR-based AI/ML model for early sepsis prediction in clinical practice. Bridge2AI All Hands Conference, Washington, DC. May 20-25, 2025.