Monte Fernandez

Global Challenge: NAE Grand Challenge of Health Informatics

Abstract

During my three years in the GLASS program, I've focused on the impact of natural disasters, with a keen eye on Hurricane Maria's devastation in Puerto Rico in 2017. My work has involved extensive research into the vulnerabilities of communities, exacerbated by their historical, social, economic, and political contexts. Recognizing the shortcomings of traditional disaster relief efforts, which Maria's aftermath starkly highlighted with over 3,000 fatalities and significant economic damage, I've connected with hurricane relief organizations in Puerto Rico to ground my research in practical solutions.

This hands-on experience led to the development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP): a data-driven website aimed at enhancing relief operations. By enabling real-time coordination among relief organizations and integrating emergency calls with vulnerability mapping, this platform seeks to improve response efficiency and proactively support at-risk communities. My work emphasizes the importance of leveraging data for strategic disaster preparedness and response, proposing a scalable model for global application to protect vulnerable populations against the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters.

Bio:

Growing up under the vibrant skies of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monte Fernandez was no stranger to the beauty and wrath of nature. The devastating impact of Hurricane Maria on his homeland was a pivotal moment, igniting a fervent passion within him to leverage technology for disaster resilience. As a Computer Science major at NYU Tandon, his journey has led him to the Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM program, where I've dedicated himself to harnessing the power of health informatics. This endeavor isn't just academic; it's a mission to preemptively identify and fortify vulnerable communities against the inevitable fury of natural disasters. Through his project, he aimed to weave a safety net that bridges the gap between technological innovation and humanitarian need, inspired by the resilience of his people and the transformative potential of global health informatics challenges outlined by the National Academy of Engineering.

During his time at Tandon and GLASS he has also pursued his interests in Education. He was selected as a Tandon Dean’s Outreach Influencer and an NYU Opportunity Programs tutor. In this capacity He conducted research and outreach events for the free opportunity programs provided to underrepresented students in STEM both at the high-school and college level. Additionally Monte has had two internship experiences at two different companies. In the summer of 2022 he was a Risk Technology Consulting Intern at PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) and in the summer of 2023 he was a Software Engineer at Sigma Computing.