Faculty Profile: Gina Wingood

My research portfolio fits into public health promotion because at its core my research is able to answer some of the most fundamental questions in the field of public health promotion. Thus, my research determines whether my prevention programs are effective. If they are effective, then I challenge myself to demonstrate if my prevention programs are effective with minority populations? Further, I attempt to answer why my prevention programs are effective and whether they can be disseminated in public health and social venues?

My program of HIV prevention research is most distinguished by the six Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined Tier 1 Evidence-Based HIV Interventions (EBIs) that have been disseminated nationally. My EBI known as SISTA, was the first HIV prevention program for women that efficaciously reduced women’s sexual risk of HIV. This program was widely disseminated by CDC and adoption of SISTA was described by CDC as a ‘social movement’ as it is the most widely disseminated and adopted HIV intervention for women in the United States. These EBIs, include individual and dyadic level HIV prevention programs for African Americans. Historically, my research is recognized within the field of sociomedical sciences as it demonstrates how social science theory, namely, the Theory of Gender and Power, was essential in designing interventions to reduce African American women’s HIV vulnerability, HIV risk and incident sexually transmitted infections. 

Currently, my research focuses on designing placed-based HIV interventions. To enhance intervention impact these institutional-level interventions aim to reduce HIV stigma and enhance HIV testing and are being conducted in predominantly black churches that are located in high HIV prevalence zip codes. 

As the inaugural Director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, I hope to further develop the health communications selection of courses and, expand the Center’s work in public health promotion research, advocacy and leadership.

I enjoy beadwork and as a new comer to NYC, I hope to browse through the numerous bead stores in the city. This semester I look forward to teaching in the Core and I hope to engage many of the Mailman faculty and students in the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion.