Vaccine Preventable Disease Epidemiologist II, Texas HH
Category : Alumni
Description
Under the guidance of the Vaccine Preventable Disease(VPD) Group Manager, the VPD Epidemiologist II performs advanced investigative and consultative epidemiological work within the Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Unit (EAIDU) related to VPDs. Collects and analyzes, interprets, and distributes epidemiological data on VPDs in Texas. May supervise the work of others in data collection. Provides telephonic and electronic technical consultation to public health professionals, healthcare providers, and the public on the epidemiology of VPD and assists these partners in any VPD outbreak investigations. Prepares public health information, training materials, and investigative tools for VPD surveillance and investigation. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.
Essential Job Functions
- Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
- Participates in VPD outbreak investigations and studies by coordinating data collection with local and regional health department partners, abstracting medical data from hospital and medical records, designing and modifying questionnaires or report forms, interviewing patients, coordinating collection and transport of clinical specimens, performing data analysis using statistical programs, and assisting with recommendations for control measures. Analyzes and interprets epidemiological data, including laboratory findings. Creates, maintains, and distributes line lists and databases using applications such as Excel, Access and other software packages available to the team.
- Monitors the statewide surveillance system for case reports of VPDs in the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS); assists and provides consultation to local and regional health department staff on data entry, case classification, and other aspects of case investigations; conducts some data entry; ensures data quality, reviews and approves or rejects notifications, and oversees year-end data cleanup in the system. Assists in establishing and implementing activities to improve surveillance for VPDs. Retrieves data from the Department’s laboratory information system (LabWare) and NEDSS.
- Coordinates activities related to the reporting of metrics for the VPD portion of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement. Coordinates with local and regional health department partners on inter-jurisdictional case and outbreak investigations. May serve as a point of contact with CDC for VPD outbreak investigations. Recommends measures for prevention and control of VPD. Working with Unit staff, develops protocols, procedures, and training materials related to surveillance and outbreak investigations. Participates in training regional and local staff in investigation methods. Develops and disseminates data collection instruments. Requests and collates information collected during VPD investigations. Coordinates establishment and implementation of activities to improve outbreak response.
- Prepares reports and graphs of surveillance and investigation data using Power Point, Excel, Access, and NEDSS. Disseminates data reports to internal and external partners. May prepare and give oral presentations on surveillance data and epidemiological investigations for professional and lay audiences. Assists in the development of disease fact sheets, pamphlets, brochures and press bulletins. May assist in preparing articles for publication in journals. Provides telephonic and electronic technical consultations to public health professionals, health care providers, and the public on the epidemiology of VPDs and their prevention and control. Prepares VPD data for posting to the web. Reviews scientific literature, as appropriate.
Required Skills and Experience
- A master’s degree with a focus in epidemiology and = 2 years’ work experience in epidemiology in a public health agency OR a doctoral-level degree in epidemiology OR other non-epidemiology graduate degree or certification (e.g., RN, MD/DO, DDS/DMD, DVM, PhD, RS) with at least four years of epidemiological experience.
- Experience using statistical analysis software required. Experience with SAS strongly preferred.
- Experience communicating complex and technical information to a variety of groups.
How to Apply
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