Dr. Kristina Cummings, DO

Codirector of History and Physical Examination
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Elmira

Background and Experience

Dr Cummings earned her DO from University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her residency was in family practice, and she did a fellowship in Obstetrics. She practiced Family medicine with Obstetrics for 10 years in Georgia then moved to New York state where she continued Family practice in a rural health office in Montour Falls, NY. She took family practice pediatric call with infant resuscitation until she moved into academic teaching in 2020. In 2020, she became the History and Physical examination assistant director for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and was named the Director the following year. At LECOM, her interests for research have included the effects of standardized patients and sensitive patient models on students as well as the effect of simulation via virtual reality on students.

She also has interests in community-based research and has been working with students and Dr Zachary Dunbar on a project involving pregnancy and access to care as well as tobacco and drug addiction in pregnancy. She is also working on a project with several students and Dr Lindsay Burwell regarding the effects of Hippotherapy on respiration and osteopathic indications of hippotherapy.

A third project is the continuation of research on medical simulation, virtual reality and standardized and sensitive patients and how their use has changed after COVID. I am working on that project with Dr Octavia Flanagan.

My other interests are women’s health and pediatrics.
I am also starting a project with a student about the effects OMT may have on disabled patients.