Nicole Ducray ’24, ’25MPH, Amal Anilkumar ’27MMS, MPH, and Dr. Heather McClintock, associate professor in the Department of Public Health, showcased their expertise at the 2025 American Public Health Association (APHA) meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Ducray presented her capstone thesis entitled, “Breast Cancer Screening Access Among Women with Sensory Loss: Insights from 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.” She conducted the research with McClintock and Dr. Amanda Hinson-Enslin of Wright State University. They found women ages 40-74 with both hearing and vision loss were significantly less likely to receive mammograms than those with neither disability.

“I am glad that I was able to inform others of the barriers those with sensory loss face when accessing preventative screening like mammograms,” she said. “I met so many inspiring people that are passionate about the work they do.”

Ducray puts her studies into action as a care coordinator for a home visit primary care clinic. The clinic focuses on connecting home-bound adults with the care they need when dealing with chronic conditions.

Anilkumar’s capstone project focused on influenza vaccine hesitancy as an increasing public health concern. In his research, conducted with McClintock, Anikumar found individuals who were older, insured, had higher incomes, or Asian were significantly more likely to receive the influenza vaccine, while persons who were male, Black, divorced, or living in the midwest/south were significantly less likely to receive the influenza vaccine.

“It means so much for me to be granted the privilege to attend the APHA annual meeting,” Anikumar said. “As a dual-degree student currently in my didactic year of PA school at Arcadia, it is great to be able to continue to integrate public health into my learning experiences. I hope to return in the future and continue to network with the many esteemed members of public health.”

Anikumar hopes to continue conducting research in the future, both in the medical field as well as the public health space. He believes this will help him become the most well-rounded PA he can be.

“I believe it is so important to continue to understand the field that we are working in, and to find the best and most accessible approaches to keep our community members healthy and well,” he said.