Departmental Affiliations
J Julian Fernandez, PhD '´17, MSc, MPH, MD, contributes to improving health information to measure and ultimately reduce health inequities in low- and middle-income countries.
Research Interests
Social Epidemiology; Health Information Systems; Health Surveys; Health Policies; Migration and Health; Social Determinants of Health; Latin America.
Additional Links
Experiences & Accomplishments
I have worked in various research projects about public health among vulnerable populations in Latin America. My areas of interest include statistical analysis applied to public health, social epidemiology, mental health, and, more recently, the relationships between migration and health. In addition, I was the National Director of Epidemiology and Demography in the Ministry of Health in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience allowed me to better understand the evidence-based decision-making process under conditions of uncertainty.
I want to have a global perspective on social inequalities in health in low and middle countries, with knowledge of the differences between health systems but also shared public health challenges. I would like to become a researcher who supports these countries and disadvantaged social groups in developing strategies to improve the quality of health information systems and national health surveys aimed at generating knowledge that contributes to reducing health disparities.
Currently, I serve as the Deputy Secretary of Public Health in Bogotá´`´, Colombia, from where I lead the design and implementation of collective interventions, as well as the strengthening of the intersectoral governance of public health in the city.
Honors & Awards
- Currently, I serve as the Deputy Secretary of Public Health in Bogotá´`´, Colombia.
- During 2021 and until March 2022, I was the Director of Epidemiology during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Colombian Ministry of Health.
- Co-leadership of the response to the covid-19 pandemic in Colombia and the design of National Vaccination Plan (NPV) against COVID-19 in Colombia through knowledge management, technical reports, systematic reviews, and leading own scientific research.
- I was part of the advisory committee for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic of the Colombian Ministry of Health.
- I awarded the “Roble Amarillo” medal for my contributions to the COVID-19 pandemic response in Colombia.
Select Publications
Most recent publications
Hernandez Woodbine MJ, Fernández-Niño JA, Rodríguez-Villamizar LA, Rojas-Botero ML. COVID-19 vaccination plans in Latin America and the Caribbean: a multi-country comparative analysis of prioritization strategies. Public Health. 2024 Mar;228:162-170. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.12.035. Epub 2024 Feb 15. PMID: 38364676.
Bojorquez-Chapela I, Rojas-Botero ML, Marín DP, Riveros MA, Roa AY, Fernández-Niño JA. Incorporating migrants into National COVID-19 Vaccination Plans in Latin America: A comparative analysis of policies in seven countries. J Migr Health. 2023 Nov 17;9:100207. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2023.100207. PMID: 38053942; PMCID: PMC10694650.
Gomez W, Fernández-Niño JA, Guillén JR, Stevenson M, Ortíz J, Barriga Talero MÁ, López JJ, Núñez RL, Spiegel P, Page KR, Ramirez Correa JF, Porras DM, Wirtz AL. The impact of policy and policy communication on COVID-19 vaccination inequalities among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia: a comparative cross-sectional interrupted time-series analysis. BMJ Glob Health. 2024 Mar 7;9(3):e014464. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014464. PMID: 38453517; PMCID: PMC10921509.
Cifuentes MP, Rodriguez-Villamizar LA, Rojas-Botero ML, Alvarez-Moreno CA, Fernández-Niño JA. Socioeconomic inequalities associated with mortality for COVID-19 in Colombia: a cohort nationwide study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2021 Mar 4: jech-2020-216275. doi: 10.1136/jech-2020-216275.
Ruiz-Gómez F, Fernández-Niño JA. La lucha contra la COVID-19: una perspectiva desde América Latina y el Caribe. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2022;46:e60. doi: https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2022.60
Bojórquez-Chapela I, Flórez-García V, Calderón-Villarreal A, Fernández-Niño JA. Health policies for international migrants: A comparison between Mexico and Colombia. Health Policy OPEN.2020. 1: 100003.