Epidemiologist
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Under minimal supervision and in collaboration with other Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District employees, the Epidemiologist protects and promotes the health of our community by performing disease surveillance, conducting epidemiological investigations and monitoring and identifying disease trends and outbreaks. This position also supports public health response efforts during times of crisis. This position must be familiar with data management and analysis as well as medical terminology, laboratory test interpretation and specimen collection and HIPAA. The Epidemiologist position requires extensive knowledge of public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data management and infectious disease epidemiology.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position exercises supervision.
IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Performs passive and active disease surveillance. Receives reports of notifiable conditions or unusual outbreaks and enters them into NEDSS (National Electronic Disease Surveillance System) or local databases. Ensures accurate and timely reporting to DSHS and internal leadership. Corrects duplicate and inaccurate entries within NEDSS.
Conducts epidemiological investigations. Interviews patients and medical professionals. Coordinates collection and transportation of needed specimens, medical records and laboratory findings. Capable of understanding medical terminology and interpreting lab results.
Monitors and identifies disease trends and/or outbreaks. Provides data and information to prevent the spread of disease and informs processes regarding mitigation efforts. Conducts active surveillance and outreach by connecting with local medical providers; building relationships, and advocating for more robust reporting.
Collects, analyzes and disseminates data. Performs ongoing evaluation of data, identifying data quality issues and collaborating with other staff to enhance the overall quality of data.
Conducts and attends meetings in person and virtually. Participates in conference calls with DSHS and other entities. Attends trainings and conferences, as needed to ensure knowledge is up-to-date. Disseminates pertinent information to internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.
Provides education, training and consultation to City staff and leadership as well as medical professionals and the public regarding disease outbreaks, reporting and other relevant epidemiological topics.
Responds to public health threats and emergencies during disaster and recovery responses in the local region. Serves as Health Department Safety Officer and is responsible for conducting the Safety Committee.
Conducts and informs the evaluative process related to all of ATCPHD’s programs to determine impact on public health. Assists in the creation and measurement of evaluative metrics, such as Operational Performance Measures (OPMs). Generates reports that can be easily interpreted by technical and non-technical audiences.
Completes an annual evaluation of the community’s health (CHA) and compare to previous year(s). Presents information to inform decision making regarding strategic planning, policy changes and program recommendations.
OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES
Perform other job related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
Quantitative and qualitative research methods, statistical analysis, and mathematics.
Epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology and biostatistics principles and methods.
State laws regarding notifiable conditions and disease reporting as well as the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Medical terminology and approved abbreviations.
General specimen collection, transport and submission requirements as well as laboratory test interpretation.
Data management, quality assurance and improvement as well as data confidentiality, privacy protocols and HIPAA compliance.
Office systems (i.e. Microsoft Office Excel, Powerpoint, and Word) and internet-based systems such as google (i.e. Google sheets, mail, docs, etc).
Skill to:
Use statistical software such as SAS, STATA, R, SPSS, etc.
Collect, process, manage and analyze data. Develop and maintain complex data sets. Utilize specific data analysis visualization software (such as Tableau) and database software (such as SQL).
Write technical and scientific reports. Assist with grant documentation for potential funding sources.
Safely operate a motor vehicle.
Ability to:
Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for the health department, City leadership, medical professionals and the greater community.
Stay current in the field of epidemiology and public health.
Create data visualizations using complex data sets.
Exercise independent judgment and show initiative by prioritizing work and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. This includes effectively communicating complex technical and analytical findings to non-technical audiences.
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.
Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
Lead and manage a team in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
Experience and Training Guidelines:
Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:
Experience:
Two (2) years of experience investigating disease outbreaks, conducting disease surveillance, data collection and data analysis are required.
Education/Training:
A bachelor’s degree in public health, statistics, mathematics, biology or a related field is required.
A graduate degree in public health with an emphasis on epidemiology and/or biostatistics is preferred.
License or Certificate:
A valid Texas driver’s license; the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required.
Special Requirements:
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
Ability to work in a standard office environment.
Potential exposure to persons with infectious/non-infectious diseases.
With or without accommodation, ability to lift 50 pounds.
Ability to hitch and unhitch, tow and load a box trailer.
Ability to move, start and test generators.
Work may be completed outside of traditional business hours as this position is subject to emergency call back and response.
Work may include exposure to cold, heat, noise, outdoors, vibration, chemical and biological hazards.
Otros detalles
- Tipo de pago Por hora
- Tasa de contratación mínima $49,016.00
- Tasa de contratación máxima $59,343.00
- Public Health, 850 N. 6th, Abilene, Texas, Estados Unidos de América