Jennifer Summers, Our people, University of Otago, Wellington, University of Otago, New Zealand

Dr Jennifer Summers image 2020 PhD, AKC, DHMSA, PGDPH, PGCAP, BSc, CStat, FHEA, MRSNZ

Senior Research Fellow; BODE³

Affiliate of Kings College London, United Kingdom

Contact details
Research interests and activities
Publications

Contact details

Fax +64 4 389 5319
Email jennifer.summers@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Jennifer joined the University of Otago as a Senior Research Fellow in 2020. She is currently a member of the Health Environment & Infection Research Unit (HEIRU). Jennifer is involved with COVID-19 related research, and is part of the Co-Search team. She is currently researching the COVID-19 response amongst island jurisdictions including New Zealand and supervises postgraduate students in Public Health.

Jennifer’s previous role at Otago University was in the Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE³), and she held a previous position in the the Division of Health and Social Care Research at King’s College London, United Kingdom as a Medical Statistician.

Jennifer was awarded her PhD in 2013 from the University of Otago in Public Health, titled 'The Burden and Risk Factors for Death from the 1918-19 Influenza Pandemic amongst the New Zealand Military Forces of World War One'. Jennifer was also awarded a Diploma in the History of Medicine from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries in 2020, titled 'An Overview of Vaccine use amongst the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces during World War One'.

Jennifer’s research interests include investigating aspects of life-course, historical and infectious disease epidemiology; specifically transmission and containment of influenza, both pandemic and seasonal strains. Jennifer also has research interests in historical epidemiology, military history, pandemic preparedness, disease modelling (including transmission dynamics), health workforces and policy, and statistical methodologies. Jennifer is a Chartered Statistician (CStat) from the Royal Statistical Society, United Kingdom.

Health Environment & Infection Research Unit (HEIRU), Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, University of Otago, New Zealand

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Publications

Baker, M., Summers, J., Kerr, J., & Wilson, N. (2023). Aotearoa New Zealand's fourth wave of Covid-19 and why we should care. The Briefing, (28 April). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/aotearoa-new-zealands-fourth-wave-covid-19-and-why-we-should-care?utm_source=mc_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=covid_wave_4

Brown, L. C., Greenlay, E. J., & Summers, J. (2023). Statistics and evidence-based healthcare. In P. Bennett, C. Williamson, L. Sykes, D. A. MacIntyre & P. H. Dixon (Eds.), Basic science in obstetrics and gynaecology: A textbook for MRCOG, Part 1. (5th ed.) (pp. 251-264). Elsevier.

Kvalsvig, A., Tuari-Toma, B., Timu-Parata, C., Bennett, J., Sinnema, C., Summers, J., Davies, C., Jackson, C., … Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2023). Protecting school communities from COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks: The urgent need for healthy schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1571), 7-19. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Grout, L., Gottfreðsson, M., Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M. G., Wilson, N., & Summers, J. (2023). Comparing COVID-19 pandemic health responses in two high-income island nations: Iceland and New Zealand. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/14034948221149143

Ouakrim, D. A., Wilson, T., Waa, A., Maddox, R., Andrabi, H., Mishra, S. R., Summers, J. A., … Edwards, R., Wilson, N., & Blakely, T. (2023). Tobacco endgame intervention impacts on health gains and Māori/non-Māori health inequity: A simulation study of the Aotearoa/New Zealand Tobacco Action Plan. Tobacco Control. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/tc-2022-057655

Chapter in Book - Research

Summers, J., Kvalsvig, A., French, N., & Baker, M. G. (2023). Bacteria: Campylobacter. In Reference module in food science. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-822521-9.00035-6

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Summers, J., & Baker, M. G. (2022). Integrated prevention and control of seasonal respiratory infections in Aotearoa New Zealand: Next steps for transformative change. Policy Quarterly, 18(1), 44-51. doi: 10.26686/pq.v18i1.7500

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Clement, C., Summers, J. A., Thomson, G., & Harper, G. (2022). Differential lifespan impacts on veterans by war exposure in the First World War. BMJ Military Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/military-2022-002278

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Hoek, J., Nghiem, N., Summers, J., Grout, L., & Edwards, R. (2022). Modelling the impacts of tobacco denicotinisation on achieving the Smokefree 2025 goal in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1548), 65-76. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Chalkidou, A., Macmillan, T., Grzeda, M. T., Peacock, J., Summers, J., Eddy, S., … van As, N. (2021). Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy in patients with oligometastatic cancers: A prospective, registry-based, single-arm, observational, evaluation study. Lancet Oncology, 22(1), 98-106. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30537-4

Journal - Research Article

Grout, L., Katar, A., Ouakrim, D. A., Summers, J. A., Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M. G., Blakely, T., & Wilson, N. (2021). Failures of quarantine systems for preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand. Medical Journal of Australia, 215(7), 320-324. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51240

Journal - Research Article

Jin, H., Chalkidou, A., Hawkins, M., Summers, J., Eddy, S., Peacock, J. L., … on behalf of the SABR Data Working Group. (2021). Cost-effectiveness analysis of stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy compared with surgery and radiofrequency ablation in two patient cohorts: Metastatic liver cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Oncology, 3, e143-e154. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2020.08.010

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Clement, C., Summers, J. A., Thomson, G., & Harper, G. (2021). Impact of war on veteran life span: Natural experiment involving combat versus non-combat exposed military personnel. BMJ Military Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001991

Journal - Research Article

Goddard, K., Pennington, M., Kartha, M. R., Macmillan, T., Bunce, C., Summers, J. A., … Chalkidou, A. (2020). Complex clinical pathways: Assessing the value of a device for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic Foot Journal, 23(1), 16, 20.

Journal - Research Article

Ostermann, M., Summers, J., Lei, K., Card, B., Harrington, D. J., Sherwood, R., … Bear, D. E. (2020). Micronutrients in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury: A prospective study. Scientific Reports, 10, 1505. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-58115-2

Journal - Research Article

Pennington, M., Summers, J., Coker, B., Eddy, S., Kartha, M. R., Edwards, K., … Peacock, J. L. (2020). Selective dorsal rhizotomy: Evidence on cost-effectiveness from England. PLoS ONE, 15(8), e0236783. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236783

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J., Coker, B., Eddy, S., Elstad, M., Bunce, C., Bourmpaki, E., … for the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Steering Committee. (2019). 'Selective dorsal rhizotomy in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: An observational cohort study. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 3, 455-462. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30119-1

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Baker, M. G., & Wilson, N. (2018). New Zealand's experience of the 1918-9 influenza pandemic: A systematic review after 100 years. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1487), 54-69. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Khan, M. S., Gan, C., Ahmed, K., Ismail, A. F., Watkins, J., Summers, J. A., … Dasgupta, P. (2016). A single-centre early phase randomised controlled three-arm trial of open, robotic, and laparoscopic radical cystectomy (CORAL). European Urology, 69, 613-621. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2015.07.038

Journal - Research Article

Morris, E., Chalkidou, A., Hammers, A., Peacock, J., Summers, J., & Keevil, S. (2016). Diagnostic accuracy of ¹⁸F amyloid PET tracers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, 43, 374-385. doi: 10.1007/s00259-015-3228-x

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Peacock, J., Coker, B., McMillan, V., Ofuya, M., Lewis, C., … Reid, F. (2016). Multicentre prospective survey of SeHCAT provision and practice in the UK. BMJ Open Gastroenterology, 3(1), e000091. doi: 10.1136/bmjgast-2016-000091

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Stanley, J., Baker, M. G., & Wilson, N. (2014). Risk factors for death from pandemic influenza in 1918-1919: A case-control study. Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses, 8(3), 329-338. doi: 10.1111/irv.12228

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Clement, C., Summers, J. A., Bannister, J., & Harper, G. (2014). Mortality of first world war military personnel: Comparison of two military cohorts. BMJ, 349, g7168. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g7168

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Shanks, G. D., Baker, M. G., & Wilson, N. (2013). Severe impact of the 1918-19 pandemic in a national military force. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1378). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Wilson, N., Baker, M. G., & Gottfredsson, M. (2013). The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 in two remote island nations: Iceland and New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1373). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Nghiem, N., Summers, J. A., Carter, M.-A., & Harper, G. (2013). A nutritional analysis of New Zealand military food rations at Gallipoli in 1915: Likely contribution to scurvy and other nutrient deficiency disorders. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1373). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Summers, J. A., Baker, M. G., Thomson, G., & Harper, G. (2013). Fatal injury epidemiology among the New Zealand military forces in the First World War. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1385). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A. (2012). Pandemic influenza outbreak on a troop ship: Diary of a soldier in 1918. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18(11), 1900-1903.

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Summers, J. A., & Baker, M. G. (2012). The 2009 influenza pandemic: A review of the strengths and weaknesses of the health sector response in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1365). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Telfar Barnard, L., Summers, J. A., Shanks, G. D., & Baker, M. G. (2012). Differential mortality rates by ethnicity in 3 influenza pandemics over a century, New Zealand. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18(1), 71-77. doi: 10.3201/eid1801.110035

Journal - Research Article

Summers, J. A., Wilson, N., Baker, M. G., & Shanks, G. D. (2010). Mortality risk factors for pandemic influenza on New Zealand troop ship, 1918. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 16(12), 1931-1937. doi: 10.3201/eid1612.100429

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Bennett, J., Shorter, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Wilson, N., Crane, J., Douwes, J., Cunningham, C., … Summers, J., … Baker, M. G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). Indoor air quality, largely neglected and in urgent need of a refresh. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1559), 136-139. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A., Ouakrim, D. A., Wilson, N., & Blakely, T. (2022). Updated health and cost impacts of electronic nicotine delivery systems, using recent estimates of relative harm for vaping compared to smoking [Brief report]. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 24(3), 408-412. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntab178

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A., Wilson, N., Blakely, T., & Sigglekow, F. (2022). Disease-related loss to government funding: Longitudinal analysis of individual-level health and tax data for an entire country [Brief report]. Value in Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.08.007

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Grout, L., Summers, J., Jones, A. C., Mizdrak, A., Nghiem, N., Cleghorn, C., & Blakely, T. (2021). Should prioritising health interventions be informed by modelling studies? The case of cancer control in Aotearoa New Zealand [Viewpoint]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1531), 101-113. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Summers, J. A., Grout, L., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Bumper issue of COVID-19 pandemic studies of relevance to Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1538), 9-17. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Kvalsvig, A., Summers, J., Gray, L., Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2020). COVID-19 outbreaks in Aotearoa New Zealand: Urgent action is required to address systematic causes and consequences of border failures. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1527), 8-14. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J., Cheng, H.-Y., Lin, H.-H., Telfar Barnard, L., Kvalsvig, A., Wilson, N., & Baker, M. G. (2020). Potential lessons from the Taiwan and New Zealand health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 4, 100044. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100044

Journal - Research Other

Macmillan, T., Pennington, M., Summers, J. A., Goddard, K., Zala, D., Herz, N., … Chalkidou, A. (2018). SecurAcath for securing peripherally inserted central catheters: A NICE medical technology guidance. Applied Health Economics & Health Policy, 16, 779-791. doi: 10.1007/s40258-018-0427-1

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A., Radhakrishnan, M., Morris, E., Chalkidou, A., Rua, T., Patel, A., … Peacock, J. (2018). Virtual Touch^TM quantification to diagnose and monitor liver fibrosis in hepatitis B and hepatitis C: A NICE medical technology guidance. Applied Health Economics & Health Policy, 15, 139-154. doi: 10.1007/s40258-016-0277-7

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Thomson, G., Summers, J. A., Harper, G., Horrocks, J., & Roberts, E. (2018). The health impacts of the First World War on New Zealand: A summary and a remaining research agenda. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42(6), 516-518. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12837

Journal - Research Other

Reid, F., Peacock, J., Coker, B., McMillan, V., Lewis, C., Keevil, S., … Summers, J. (2016). A multicenter prospective study to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the SeHCAT test in measuring bile acid malabsorption: Research protocol. JMIR Research Protocols, 5(1), e13. doi: 10.2196/resprot.4467

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A. (2015). A flu that brought nations to a standstill. Hektoen International, 7(3). Retrieved from https://hekint.org/2017/02/01/a-flu-that-brought-nations-to-a-standstill

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A., Clinch, J., Radhakrishnan, M., Healy, A., McMillan, V., Morris, E., … Keevil, S. F. (2015). The geko^TM electro-stimulation device for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: A NICE medical technology guidance. Applied Health Economics & Health Policy, 13, 135-147. doi: 10.1007/s40258-014-0139-0

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Oliver, J., Summers, J. A., Baker, M. G., Waller, M., & Shanks, G. D. (2014). Age-specific mortality during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic and possible relationship to 1889-92 pandemic. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 210(6), 993-995. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu191

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Summers, J., & Baker, M. G. (2014). Impact of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic on the New Zealand military and persisting lessons for pandemic control. Microbiology Australia, 35(3), 138-140. doi: 10.1071/MA14048

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. A., Wilson, N., & Baker, M. G. (2011). New research on pandemic influenza at the World Congress of Epidemiology, Edinburgh, 7-11 August 2011 [Meeting report]. Eurosurveillance, 16(45), 20011. Retrieved from http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20011

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Summers, J., Baker, M., & Rice, G. (2009). A bizarre case of drowning as a result of pandemic influenza (1918 pandemic) [Clincial correspondence]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 122(1302). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1302/3777/content.pdf

Journal - Research Other

Summers, J. (2021). What are the lessons for NZ from battles against delta around the world? The Spinoff, (5 September). Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/05-09-2021/what-are-the-lessons-for-nz-from-battles-against-delta-around-the-world?amp=

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Summers, J., & Browne, M. (2014). Beautifully hideous: Pioneering plastic surgery in World War I. Wellcome History, (54), 2-5.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

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