Month: September 2019

Research Assistant – Part-time, Temporary, James Bell

James Bell Associates (https://www.jbassoc.com) – Atlanta, GA

Well-established firm specializing in evaluations of child welfare and human services programs seeks to support a child welfare case record data project for approximately 4-week period in Atlanta, GA. The research assistant is responsible for reviews of administrative and case records of children/families involved in child welfare, and extraction of data elements into Access database. This research study is examining methods for identifying and serving children in the child welfare system who are affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol and other substances, including opioids. The results will lay the groundwork for improved care and outcomes for children, reliable prevalence data, and appropriate allocation of resources.

Duties & Responsibilities

· In-depth 2.5-day training on project and data collection responsibilities and Access database

· Collection and synthesis of administrative data from state social services data base

· Data entry into structured Access database

· Communicates with the project team manager

· Adheres to the company’s confidentiality protocol

Knowledge & Skills

· Strong organizational and analytical skills

· Attention to detail

· Research training and skills

· Experience with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)

· Excellent written and oral communication skills

· Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently

Education Experience

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with at least two years of work experience in child welfare, social sciences, human services, and/or applied research

Other Requirements

Must be a US citizen and be able to pass background checks.

Compensation/Timing/Location

· Competitive hourly pay ($24/hr)

· Between 25-35 hours a week for intensive/consecutive 4-week period

· Business hours only: 8:00am – 6:00pm (no weekend days)

· Position in Atlanta, GA

Apply E-mail resume and cover letter with position sought to: Erin Morehouse at morehouse [at] jbassoc [dot] com

Equal opportunity employer.


TPMG Consulting Services

Category : Alumni

The TPMG Consulting Services department at Kaiser Permanente provides analytic and business consulting support to the executive leadership of The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in Northern California. We are currently seeking talented analytic consultants with a strong mix of technical and consulting skills for roles based in our Oakland, CA office. With a range of experience levels, our analytic consultant positions include:

• Consulting Data Analyst

• Senior Consulting Data Analyst

• Data Consultant

• Senior Data Consultant

These positions are part of a large, collaborative team of highly skilled analytic programmers who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that primarily uses SAS and SQL. Our team delivers data-driven insights to TPMG clinicians to inform and influence strategic performance improvement initiatives. Day to day, this means our team members scope projects, consult with clients, explore data, and write code to generate—and automate—actionable reports and intuitive dashboards via the latest data visualization tools.

To express interest, refer a candidate, or request additional information, please contact TPMG-Consulting-Services-Analytic-Recruiting [at] kp [dot] org.


Behind the Manuscript, 9/24

Category : GLEPI News/Events

Join the Epidemiology department and Dr. Michael Goodman in a seminar sharing the insights to the research process behind the manuscript “Cross-sex hormones and acute cardiovascular events in transgender persons”

Please RSVP by clicking HERE.


Chair’s Chat 10/2, Please RSVP

Category : GLEPI News/Events

Join the Epidemiology Department for pizza and a conversation with peers and Dr. Timothy Lash and Dr. Lauren Christiansen-Lindquist on 10/2 at 12 pm. Please RSVP whether you plan to attend or not by clicking HERE.


BRFSS and Data Manager position, due 9/20

Category : Alumni

The Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CCDPC) is responsible for directing the data team through a dynamic portfolio of projects which facilitate healthy lifestyles for Marylanders, with a focus on diabetes, heart disease and stroke prevention, including data management and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) program. This position will report to the CCDPC Deputy Director and be responsible for overseeing and coordinating operations of the data collection and management for all CCDPC activities. This position will manage all aspects of the Maryland BRFSS program, including the program budget and at least one federal grant supporting the program, as well as other surveillance projects (e.g. MENDS).

The BRFSS is a statewide telephone survey that collects data from Maryland adults, regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions and use of preventive health services. This position will evaluate efficiency within data collection and management operations. Based on such evaluations, this position will make recommendations of data use to the department, as well as make recommendations for new policies, standards and workflow procedures. Finally, this position will not only provide timely data to internal and external partners, but will also assist partners in understanding and effectively utilizing surveillance data, in order to successfully share such data with public health programs, policies and decisions.

This position will work collaboratively with other Center staff members to inform programs related to chronic disease (e.g. heart disease, diabetes) and associated risk factors (e.g. poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity). This position will be located at the Maryland Department of Health’s CCDPC division.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Six years of experience in administrative staff or professional work. Two years of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: the supervision of other employees; overseeing and coordinating the general operations of a unit; applying rules and regulations; or, exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures.

Notes:

1. Additional experience in administrative staff or professional work may be substituted, on a year-for-year basis, for the required education.

2. Additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university may be substituted, at the rate of 30 semester credit hours on a year-for-year basis, for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a Commissioned Officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures, and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations, or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking Commissioned Officer, on a year-for-year basis for the required education and experience.

SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must have one year of experience using SAS software and managing large data sets.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience managing and evaluating data

Experience supervising data users

Experience making recommendations of data use when setting new policies, standards and workflow procedures 

For more information and to apply, click HERE.


Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison

The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) is the lead agency entrusted by the people of the state of Georgia with the ultimate responsibility for the health of communities and the Georgia population. The agency is seeking a candidate for the position of Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison within the Epidemiology Section, Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Unit (MCH EPI). MCH EPI is seeking an epidemiologist to assist with identifying infants with birth defects, longitudinal tracking of infants with congenital syphilis and Zika exposure, and the subsequent medical record request process. MCH EPI carries out a number of activities related to case ascertainment, case confirmation, and data quality assurance of birth defects in Georgia infants. MCH EPI staff work closely with our 18 health districts, Georgia healthcare facilities, and the CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD).

MCH EPI houses several teams, including the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) project, perinatal health (maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, family planning), children’s health screening and services, and birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) surveillance. This opportunity is with the Newborn Surveillance Team in MCH EPI. The Newborn Surveillance Team conducts surveillance for reportable birth defects, NAS, and longitudinal follow-up of congenital Zika and congenital syphilis exposure by monitoring the volume of case reports, confirming reported cases, and ensuring affected infants and families are referred to early intervention services. In this position, the Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison will gain experience in field epidemiology under the guidance and support of the Newborn Surveillance Team Lead, the Congenital Infections Registry Coordinator (CIRC), and the Infant Surveillance Epidemiologist. To aid in monthly reporting of birth defects data and quarterly reporting of congenital Zika and congenital syphilis data, the Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison will perform medical record retrieval, tracking, and data entry using the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS). Travel to facilities to obtain medical records may be necessary. An ideal candidate must be attentive to detail and comfortable working with external stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities:

 Ensure the status of each suspected birth defects case is kept up-to-date in the tracking form in the Georgia Birth Defects Registry, housed in SendSS

 Assist the CIRC Epidemiologist in obtaining medical records and completed CDC forms from providers

 Identify suspect birth defects cases using the Georgia Birth Defects Registry in SendSS

 Case confirmation:

Request records from relevant facilities (e.g., birth hospitals and individual providers)

Ensure timely receipt of records for case reporting schedule o Assist the Newborn Surveillance Team Lead and Infant Surveillance Epidemiologist in reviewing records to confirm diagnoses of interest per CDC case definition

Assist the Newborn Surveillance Team Lead and Infant Surveillance Epidemiologist in determining which cases are reportable for general birth defects o Adapt to changing case guidance as appropriate

 Perform data entry for ongoing reporting and evaluation

 Assist the Newborn Surveillance Team Lead with ongoing data quality assurance

 Assist with other projects (e.g., preparing conference abstracts and presentations) as needed Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison Job Posting 9/9/2019 The Medical Record Epidemiology Liaison will report to the Newborn Surveillance Team Lead.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university OR two years of experience performing epidemiologic work or work in a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, preference will be given to applicants who possess the following:

 Pursuing Master of Public Health with concentration in Epidemiology

 Experience working in state or local public health departments

 Comfort with Microsoft Excel and SAS or other statistical software

If interested, please contact Jerusha Barton with your resume at jerusha [dot] barton [at] dph [dot] ga [dot] gov.


PhD Student: Katie Ross

Category : #WeAreEmoryEPI

For this week’s #IamEmoryEPI, we caught up PhD student Katie Ross!

Tell us where you went to school:

I did my undergrad in Public Health from the University of Miami in 2015. I got my MPH in Epi from RSPH in 2017, and I am now a PhD student (still in Epi!).

What are your primary research interests?

I am interested in health services research and social epidemiology. I work with Dr. Rachel Patzer on improving access to transplantation for patients with end-organ failure in the United States.

What did you do this past summer?

I spent most of the summer traveling to conferences and working on my dissertation. However, I did get to spend two weeks in Banff, which rocked!

You recently were awarded the Anoopa Sharma Award! Can you tell us a little bit about that?

The Anoopa Sharma Award for Excellence in Epidemiologic Research is given in honor of Anoopa Sharma, a PhD student in the Epidemiology department who passed away in the first year of her program. You can find out more about Anoopa and her legacy here: http://anoopasharmachildrensfoundation.blogspot.com/.

What is your favorite part about your PhD program at Emory?

Everyone – including faculty, fellow students, and the department – is dedicated to helping each other and creating a supportive environment.

Do you have any advice for future PhD students?

When choosing an advisor, look for someone who is kind, uplifting, and willing to mentor you as both a scholar and a person. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or admit you don’t know something. Take care of yourself – you can’t pour from an empty cup!

What are three fun facts about yourself?

  1. I moved 9 times before I graduated from high school (Air Force brat)
  2. I got scuba certified in college and try to go as often as possible. 
  3. Last year, I adopted a cat who turned out to be a dog (plays fetch, greets us at the door, loves belly rubs)

Interviewing: Stories and Relatability are the Key

Category : PROspective

Job interviews are stressful, no matter how perfect the job or how ready you are to sell yourself. There are some classic ways to prepare to ease the stress: research the organization and the person/people you know you will be interviewing with, prepare your elevator speech about “why you”, and be on time (which actually means being early).

This article in Entrepreneur focuses on a few additional keys to a successful interview:  tell stories, relate, and be yourself. I think these go hand in hand when done well and are integral to setting yourself apart in an interview.  If you can tell a story about yourself that is authentic and highlights why you are a great choice for the position, you are revealing who you are in a memorable and relatable way.

Starting a class each semester is much the same as a job interview.  You have a few minutes to catch the students’ attention and convince them that this class will do more than fulfill a requirement. I recently read a tweet on #academictwitter asking how much teachers reveal about themselves in a classroom.  For those of you who have taken a class with me, you know I am quick to share stories about life. I was surprised how the majority of faculty responded to this twitter question with some very big boundaries.  “I share my degree and how long I have taught.”  That’s all?  That’s your resume and students probably already know that.  When I share relevant parts of my life, I am hoping to form a connection that I strongly believe enhances our time together learning about lifetables and study designs.

I contend students want to know us and want to be known by us. The same goes for interviews. And just like the first day of class, you don’t have long to make that connection.  The author of this piece said people fail his interviews right away if they recite their resumes.  My favorite interviews are when I put down my pen and paper and listen because you have captured my attention. 

It is hard to get past the nerves in an interview, but if you tell your story, you will be remembered while giving your interviewer the best insight at knowing if this is the job for you.


Call for Proposals: Duke Quantitative Summer Internships in HIV/AIDS (2020)

We will be offering twelve fully funded summer internships for quantitative graduate students to do research on HIV/AIDS projects and are currently soliciting research proposals for the 2020 program. The research proposal should involve data analysis, visualization, machine learning, computer simulation, mathematical modeling, software development or device engineering, and may optionally include opportunities for fieldwork or handson bench work in the lab. All interns will be co-mentored by the HIV/AIDS researcher (or designated lab member) and a quantitative researcher (e.g., a biostatistician or biomedical engineer). We will provide a suitable quantitative mentor for all funded projects, but you may also recommend one (e.g. a statistician or computational biologist that you are already collaborating with). The objective of the internship is to introduce quantitative graduate students to HIV/AIDS research and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations.
Examples of proposals submitted for the 2019 program can be found at : https://cfar.duke.edu/cores/biostatistics-and-computational-biology-core/internship/project-list.


The summer internships will cover
• 10 weeks of full-time paid work with option to extend if progress is satisfactory (subject to available funds)
• Up to $2,800 per intern for laboratory or other research expenses
• Travel/accommodation to present a poster or give an oral presentation at a national conference (all interns)
• Travel/accommodation to present a poster or give an oral presentation at an international conference (limited) Expectations of laboratory mentors (either PI or designated group member)
• Collaborate with the quantitative mentor over the internship period
• Prepare expectations, objectives and a structured research plan for the intern
• Ensure that any resources necessary are available at the start of the internship (e.g. data sets)
• Meet regularly with intern to provide guidance (at least once a week)
The research proposal should be between ½ – 1 page in length, and include the following:
• Title of project
• PI (and designated mentor if different from PI) contact details
• Summary of research project and why the research matters
• Objectives of internship and milestones
• Scope of work
Please keep in mind that prospective interns respond best to proposals where the objective and scope are clearly defined. If you know of specific skills or experience that the intern will need, please indicate in the scope of work section.
Please submit your research proposal (multiple proposals are welcome) to (Kelly Sune) kelly [dot] sune [at] duke [dot] edu by 5 pm Monday Sep 30, 2019. If you have any questions about the internship, please contact Cliburn Chan (cliburn [dot] chan [at] duke [dot] edu).


TEPHINET, Hilton Fellow, The Task Force for Global Health

The Task Force for Global Health is offering a fellowship opportunity to a Hilton Prize Coalition (HPC) Fellow starting in September 2019 for a minimum of three months part-time.

The HPC Fellow will have an opportunity to:

• Work as part of an ongoing Task Force program

• Become acquainted with TEPHINET’s operations and strategic work areas

• Interact with technical experts in field epidemiology and learning, and public health leaders

• Become familiar with working with coalitions and collaborative concepts

• Assist in advancing a new priority work area for the program

• Otherwise contribute to strengthen technical capacity at TEPHINET

TASK FORCE BACKGROUND:

The Task Force for Global Health is an Emory University affiliate located in Decatur, GA. Its programs focus on building robust public health systems that serve all people. Program areas include neglected tropical diseases, vaccines, and health systems strengthening. The Task Force for Global Health was recognized for its extraordinary contributions to alleviating human suffering with the 2016 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest award of its kind. The Task Force is ranked among the largest nonprofits in the United States due to in-kind contributions of medicines and vaccines from major pharmaceutical companies valued at billions of dollars annually.

TEPHINET BACKGROUND:

Training Programs in Epidemiology & Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) is a global network of field epidemiology training programs (FETPs) founded in June 1997 with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Foundation Merieux. With a secretariat based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, TEPHINET is the only global network of field epidemiology training programs, spanning multiple regional networks, sub-regional programs, and national programs around the world. Overall, TEPHINET comprises 71 programs in more than 100 countries. Currently, there are more than 12,000 FETP graduates around the world. For more information, visit TEPHINET’s website: https://www.tephinet.org/.

PROJECT:

The HPC Fellow will support TEPHINET in creating and implementing a continuous learning strategy as it relates to their mission goals. TEPHINET’s vision for the learning strategy is to:

1. Create a robust and sustainable learning platform able to host educational resources and training materials relevant to the global FETP community 2. Strengthen TEPHINET’s learning support, coordination, and interaction role to amplify the effectiveness of field epidemiologists within the network 3. Generate both internal and external (e.g., academic and research institutions) opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange

FELLOW ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

The HPC Fellow will focus primarily on supporting technical aspects of TEPHINET as it pertains to two of its strategic work areas: continuous learning and knowledge exchange. These include:

• Convening meetings of technical experts to discuss current learning gaps and emergent needs and compiling inputs for inclusion into a draft strategy document

• Performing targeted collaborative strategic activities with knowledge exchange and learning teams

The fellow will primarily be supporting TEPHINET learning activities, such as, but not limited to:

• FETP Learning Advisory Council coordination and development activities

• Learning Strategy creation and validation

• Other priority learning activities that result from the above two tasks

This position will focus primarily on supporting continued implementation of Objectives 1 and 2, and to a lesser degree Objectives 3 and 4, from the TEPHINET Learning Strategy Development and Implementation initiative:

• Objective 1: Formalize the creation of a network-wide learning advisory board

▪ Update working agenda and coordinate activities

▪ Identification of a larger network of learning focal points from key stakeholder groups, for support to this board and initiative, as needed

• Objective 2: TEPHINET Learning Strategy is finalized and validated by the learning advisory board (FLAC), FETP Program Directors, and other key stakeholders Activities:

▪ Begin organizing components of draft strategy from meeting inputs and outputs

• Liaison with a strategy development SME contractor to have a first draft of the strategy ready for presentation to the Program Directors in late October 2019

▪ Coordinate formation and convening of functional sub-working groups as identified, whose aim is to develop criteria and action plans for key components of the strategy and its implementation

• Objective 3: By 31 August 2020, select new Learning Management System (LMS) for the TEPHINET Secretariat to manage and share with the global network.

▪ Assist with planning of Sub-Objective 3.1 tasks – Conduct Collaborative Requirements Development Methodology (needs assessment for business processes and technology requirements)

• Objective 4: Starting in May 2020 through 31 August 2020, begin dissemination and implementation of TEPHINET Continuous Learning Strategy (TEPHINET will be concurrently working on some priority activities while developing the strategy.)

▪ As identified by the FLAC, assist in coordination and drafting of action plans for key activities such as: (continued) development, use and maintenance of technology platforms and tools; creation of collaboration and knowledge sharing tools/spaces for FETP curriculum standardization, FETP curriculum/course customization and innovations; review of existing learning materials and resources; identification and incorporation of new learning materials for programs and graduates (continuing education, etc), harmonizing between levels (national, regional, global); and others as determined by the strategy

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participates fully as a member of the Task Force for Global Health and TEPHINET by contributing, assisting and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management.

• Complete a Disaster Ready training administered by Hilton.

The fellowship will provide compensation to the fellow in the form of a $5,000 stipend paid on a bi-weekly basis.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Fellowship applicants should meet the following qualifications:

• Be enrolled in a master’s degree program in public health with a focus in epidemiology, global health, or a learning-focused degree or concentration OR have demonstrable experience (2-5 years or 5+ years) with learning related initiatives, ideally learning activity cycle beginning to end (design to evaluation) and/or strategy development and action planning

• Experience with development/management of virtual collaboration technology tools

• Be familiar with data management, survey development and basic data analysis

• Have an interest in strengthening public health capacity

THE APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS:

• A cover letter stating the applicant’s area of interest in public health that includes an overview or summary of related projects, experiences, or publications produced by the applicant (maximum one page)

To apply, click HERE.


Upcoming Events

  • Humphrey Fellows Noontime Seminar Series April 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Networking and Guest Lecture and Meeting and Special Event and Student Event; zoom.us… Online Location: https://zoom.us/j/95325531576Event Type: Networking,Guest Lecture,Meeting,Special Event,Student EventSeries: Noontime SeminarSpeaker: Various Speakers - see details by dateContact Name: Kris ValerianoContact Email: kvaleri@emory.eduRoom Location: RRR_R809Link: https://sph.emory.edu/departments/gh/fellows/humphrey-fellows/index.htmlFellows will present on a topic pertaining to their home country, culture and/or their work in public health.Deb Mcfarland Room, 8th floor RRR.3.28: Abeselom Gutta, MD &Yeshoda Aryal, MPH4.11: Ola Ziara,…
  • Tips from the Other Side of the Peer-Review Process to Help Get Your Scientific Manuscript Published April 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Guest Lecture Event Type: Guest LectureSeries: Center for Faculty Development and ExcellenceSpeaker: Bruce G. Weniger, Adj Assoc Prof, RSPHContact Name: Carol ColaninnoContact Email: ccolani@emory.eduLink: https://forms.gle/uhaExcRPKar39LuC7Examples good and bad, templates, andanecdotes from journal-editor experience tolimit the burden and skepticism of busyreviewers who use conscious criteria andsubjective, often unconscious intuition to judgepublication worthiness using only yourmanuscript and revision cover…
  • 2024 Charles C. Shepard Award Symposium May 8, 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm zoom.us… Online Location: https://zoom.us/j/96537866614The Charles C. Shepard Award is given to thegraduating masters student who is deemed bythe faculty to have prepared the most scholarlyresearch paper. Please join us to recognize andcelebrate this year’s finalists who will present aposter of their work.

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