Dr. Bridget Fernandez

Biography

Bridget Ann Fernandez is a Professor and Chair of the Discipline of Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has a rich educational background, having obtained a B.Sc. in Human Physiology from McGill University in 1990, followed by an M.D. from Memorial University in 1994, and completing her FRCPC in Medical Genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto in 1999. She also holds a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology from Memorial University, awarded in 2009. Dr. Fernandez's research focuses primarily on Autism Spectrum Disorders, the inherited forms of interstitial lung disease, and clinical dysmorphology syndromology. She has made significant contributions to the field by performing deep phenotyping on 700 Newfoundland families with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), identifying genetic subtypes and employing morphologic data for better clinical insights. Additionally, she leads research initiatives involving population-based recruitment for pulmonary fibrosis patients in Newfoundland. Throughout her career, she has held prominent positions including Medical Director of the Provincial Medical Genetics Program and Clinical Geneticist at Eastern Health. Dr. Fernandez previously served as the president of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists and has actively participated in various professional organizations.

Research Interests

Experience