Amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, a new beacon of hope has emerged in healthcare innovation. The Mount Sinai Health System has boldly stepped into the future with the grand opening of the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health. This state-of-the-art facility is poised to embark on a transformative journey, spearheading the AI revolution in healthcare.

The Center is a testament to Mount Sinai's unwavering commitment to revolutionizing patient care through groundbreaking innovation and technology. It symbolizes progress, embodying the convergence of artificial intelligence, data science, and genomics in the heart of Manhattan. As one of the first at a US medical school, the Center sets a new precedent for integrating AI technology across various healthcare domains, including genomics, imaging, pathology, and electronic health records.

The driving force behind this monumental endeavor is the generous support from Hamilton Evans, Tony James, and his wife, Amabel. Their investment has culminated in a 12-story, 65,000-square-foot beacon of progress, providing a home for approximately 40 Principal Investigators and 250 support staff. Their generosity has laid the foundation for a collaborative environment, fostering interdisciplinary research to deepen our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.

The integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare holds the promise of transforming how we diagnose and treat patients, reshaping the very fabric of the future of healthcare. The Mount Sinai Health System has been at the forefront of AI research and development and has established a dedicated AI research center to cultivate an optimal environment for researchers. This will lead to groundbreaking discoveries that will fundamentally change the landscape of human health.

Mount Sinai's values and vision, epitomized in the opening of the Hamilton and Amabel James Center, reflect a commitment to using artificial intelligence for the greater good. This bold initiative signifies a leap towards significant progress in healthcare and shines a beacon of hope for future breakthroughs in AI research and development within academic institutions.

Mount Sinai's perseverance and dedication in realizing this ambitious project are truly commendable. Modernizing an existing building has created a space that aligns with contemporary standards and encompasses core facilities dedicated to driving forward their AI initiatives. These initiatives include the Windreich Department of AI and Human Health, the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai, the Institute for Genomic Health, the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, and the Institute for Personalized Medicine.

Mount Sinai's Windreich Department of AI and Human Health, the first of its kind in a US medical school, is a testament to its commitment to advancing and optimizing artificial intelligence and human health. Its innovative NutriScan AI application, designed to facilitate faster identification and treatment of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, has earned it prestigious accolades and showcased the impactful application of AI in healthcare.

The Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and innovation. Mount Sinai's unwavering dedication to breakthrough science and clinical care is evident in its commitment to driving progress in precision medicine and fostering a culture of innovation and discovery.

As we stand on the cusp of a new era in healthcare, the Hamilton and Amabel James Center serves as a beacon of inspiration. It symbolizes humanity's unyielding pursuit of progress and the relentless drive to overcome the most challenging barriers. It represents hope, progress, and the indomitable spirit of humanity's quest for a healthier tomorrow.

The respected ASPRS Fellow, photogrammetrist, and remote sensing scientist will oversee and enhance Woolpert’s architecture, engineering, and geospatial technology portfolio.

Woolpert has hired Amar Nayegandhi, Global Head of Technology and Innovation, to help support the firm’s international growth strategy. Nayegandhi will work with Woolpert’s executive and operational leadership and will be responsible for aligning, optimizing, and expanding Woolpert’s technology portfolio across its globally integrated architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) platform.

Nayegandhi is an American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Fellow, certified photogrammetrist, and remote sensing scientist with over 25 years of technology services experience and leadership in the AEG industry. Working with Woolpert’s leadership team, he will help assess and streamline operational delivery efficiencies, workflows, tools, and processes and lead the development of the firm’s global delivery model.

“I am most excited to support Woolpert’s expanding global footprint and commitment to offering innovative technology solutions to solve our clients’ complex challenges in the architecture, engineering, and geospatial industries,” Nayegandhi said. “Woolpert’s forward-thinking approach to technology, from developing advanced remote sensing capabilities to enabling AI-based solutions, along with our incredible team of subject matter experts, enables us to deliver products and services that are unique in the AEG industry. I look forward to contributing to our client’s success, both across the country and around the world.”

Before joining Woolpert, Nayegandhi served as senior vice president at Dewberry, leading the firm’s geospatial and technology services operating unit. He also managed federal coastal science and resource management contracts at Jacobs, where he developed algorithms and post-flight data processing software for government-owned research topographic and bathymetric airborne lidar remote sensors.

“Amar’s deep expertise in technology best practices and innovative delivery methods is the perfect match for our continuously growing global business,” Woolpert President Neil Churman said. “We expect Amar will help us further integrate our entire set of AEG solution offerings while linking our global tech portfolio across regions and continents. Our growth strategy centers on people, culture, and talent, and bringing a professional of Amar’s caliber to Woolpert exemplifies our focus on building a world-class team.”

Nayegandhi, who will be based out of Woolpert’s St. Petersburg, Fla. office, earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Mumbai and master’s degree in computer science and engineering from the University of South Florida. He is a former director of the ASPRS Lidar Division, co-edited the ASPRS DEM User’s Manual, and has authored over 65 book chapters, refereed journal publications, and reports supporting the work of the U.S. Geological Survey and other federal agencies.

The five-year contract will support U.S. Air Force emergency planning and response for wartime and contingency, as well as human-caused and natural disasters.

The 771st Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Strategic Sourcing Flight (EGB) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has tasked Woolpert with providing geospatial support and services under a five-year, $250 million, multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The contract will support improved shared situational awareness, planning, and decision-making across the U.S. Air Force, including emergency planning and response for wartime and contingency, as well as human-caused and natural disasters.

This contract follows a geospatial IT task order supporting the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center and Air Force Materiel Command awarded to Woolpert last year under a previous, recently completed USAF geospatial support and services IDIQ contract.

Under the new contract, Woolpert will utilize a comprehensive data analysis and management solution, developed in cooperation with the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing under the previous contract, to illuminate, secure, and monitor the USAF supply chain against natural and human-caused hazards. The solution leverages multiple domains of Woolpert’s proven technical expertise, including geospatial data management, data science and engineering services, and cloud-based geospatial service development.

The firm has performed numerous contracts for the Department of the Air Force since 2019, including providing imagery and consulting services for its Installation Geospatial Information and Services Program, also known as the GeoBase program.

Woolpert Vice President Matt Johnson said that this most recent contract award exemplifies Woolpert’s advanced geospatial analytical capabilities and the global company’s ability to meet the increasing geospatial and information technology needs of the DAF.

“We are honored to continue our support for the Department of Defense’s geospatial mission and are thankful to be able to demonstrate our value in providing improved situational awareness,” Johnson said.

The contract is underway.