Precious-Junia De-Winton Cummings

Equity in Health Science and Practice (E-HSP) Team

• Co-developed and quantitatively analyzed a survey on COVID-19 experiences, symptoms, and preventive measures, including vaccination uptake, and the use of PPE.
• Collaborated on a community health improvement initiative focused on establishing a community health workforce in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
• Collaborated on the Evidence in Equity Project, which advocated for the removal of race (specifically Black ancestry) as a criterion for live kidney donation due to insufficient biological evidence and a lack of rigorous studies supporting this requirement.
• Engaged in multiple community outreach events across eastern and western Iowa, fostering public health awareness, and promoting health equity.
• Assisted in preparing manuscripts and documentation related to research projects.
• Published research findings in scientific publications and journals.
• Mentored and trained undergraduate and medical student researchers on epidemiological research methods.

Department of Epidemiology

• Utilized spatial techniques to identify inequities in the distribution and accessibility of SARS-CoV-2 testing sites.
• Developed an action-oriented framework for responding to major disease emergencies.
• Published research findings in scientific publications and journals.

College of Public Health

• Led multiple weekly discussions on various global health topics.
• Supported the professor in developing rigorous teaching materials for class discussions.
• Delivered guest lectures for undergraduate public health courses each semester.
• Graded exams and writing assignments.
• Scheduled and maintained regular office hours to meet with students.
• Created a positive learning environment through effective classroom management techniques, through interactive small and large group activities.

College of Public Health

• Led weekly discussion sessions on community health, outbreak response, and health equity.
• Advised and mentored students on graduate school applications, pursuing public health careers, and research opportunities.

Department of Epidemiology

• Facilitated work sessions for the class project involving epidemiological study designs, and analytical methods to develop a rigorous research study.

College of Public Health

• Tested the performance of a 3D microfluidic chamber (MFC) coupled with flotation and molecular techniques to detect soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in fecal and environmental samples, aiming to improve sensitivity and specificity in highly endemic, low-resource settings.

Carver College of Medicine

• Examined the differing effects of Vitamin D on lymphoma cells by monitoring cell proliferation, cell division, and gene expression using Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR).

Hershey College of Medicine

• Assessed conditioned taste aversion and taste reactivity behavior in mouse models to examine the effect of addiction and withdrawal of opioids by examining the oral-facial responses of rats to a heroin-saccharin paired taste cue.