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
Education
PhD
National Institute of Public Health of Mexico
2017
MSc
National Institute of Public Health of Mexico
2013
MPH
Universidad de Antioquia
2012
MD
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2007
Overview
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.
Currently, 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 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.
Honors & Awards
- 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.
- 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
- Arregocés-Castillo L, Fernández-Niño J, Rojas-Botero M, Palacios-Clavijo A, Galvis-Pedraza M, Rincón-Medrano L, Pinto-Álvarez M, Ruiz-Gómez F, Trejo-Valdivia B. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in older adults in Colombia: a retrospective, population-based study of the ESPERANZA cohort. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2022 Apr;3(4):e242-e252. doi: 10.1016/S2666-7568(22)00035-6.
- 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.
- Fernández-Niño JA, Peña-Maldonado C, Rojas-Botero M, Rodriguez-Villamizar LA. Effectiveness of contact tracing to reduce fatality from COVID-19: preliminary evidence from Colombia. Public Health. 2021 Jul 20; 198:123-128. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.013.
- 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.
- Luna-Orozco K, Fernández-Niño JA, Astudillo-García CI. Association between physical disability and incidence of depressive symptoms in older Mexican adults. Biomedica. 2020 Dec 2;40(4):641-655. English, Spanish. doi: 10.7705/biomedica.5398.