Environmental Public Health Physician

Department of Health and Human Services • Augusta, ME

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Maine CDC’s Environmental Health Program (EHP) and use your medical expertise to make a direct impact on the health of children in Maine communities, especially for children. As part of a close-knit team, you will work in a collaborative, innovative, and supportive environment that is cutting-edge, challenging, and engaging, one where no two days are the same and teamwork drives success. In addition to meaningful public health work, State of Maine employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that supports work-life balance and personal well-being, including generous paid time off, substantial employer-paid health and dental insurance, and opportunities to build a long-term career in public service. In this role, you’ll serve in two meaningful capacities: 1. Lead the health team for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) 2. Serve as a medical expert on environmental chemical exposures This is a managerial medical position in a public health setting, where your leadership, clinical insight, and collaboration will help protect and improve lives across the state. Join a great team doing meaningful, innovative work in environmental health. Flexible and/or reduced schedules (to 32 hours per week) may be negotiated for candidates who want to maintain a clinical role outside of State government.

Requirements

• Graduate degree from an accredited Medical or Osteopathic School in the United States (or, if a graduate of a medical school outside of the U.S., evidence of passing scores for FLEX or National Board Examinations, or current Maine medical licensure); AND Master’s Degree in Public Health OR at least two (2) years of full-time experience performing public health work at the US CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), US Public Health Service, another US state or territory, an accredited university, a hospital accredited by The Joint Commission, or a similar public health practice setting.
• Certificate of registration with the right to practice medicine and surgery in Maine as issued by the State Board of Registration of Medicine.

Nice To Haves

• Experience or training in the fields of environmental medicine, occupational medicine, environmental health, or occupational health;
• Experience supervising staff and managing complex teams;
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Experience working in a public health program or agency.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Health Team for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: Oversee monitoring of children’s blood lead levels, including confirmatory and follow-up testing, based on current state and federal guidelines, best practices, and CLPPP standard operating protocols; Supervise a team of two nursing staff; Lead a weekly childhood lead poisoning team case review; Inform healthcare providers about blood lead testing requirements and protocols for the medical management of childhood lead poisoning cases; Approve provider offices to conduct in-office blood lead testing; Collaborate with other state offices and state clinical organizations to perform education and outreach and to advance CLPPP priorities; Deliver presentations and grand rounds on childhood blood lead testing and lead exposure; Develop lead poisoning health case management protocols and procedures; Partner with managers and epidemiologists to monitor rates of blood lead testing in various populations; Partner with environmental specialists to determine when temporary relocation is needed for affected children.
• Serve as a Medical Expert in Environmental Health: Provide medical guidance to toxicologists, epidemiologists, other state agencies, and Maine residents; Support responses to both routine and acute environmental, occupational, and chemical exposures; Assist with consultations, reporting, and surveillance for notifiable environmental health conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning and exposure to polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals”; Assist toxicologists in responding to community or individual concerns when environmental exposures approach clinical significance; Collaborate across disciplines, sometimes in time-sensitive situations, under the direction of the Senior Environmental Health Program Manager.
• On occasion, as needed, and as funding allows, support other Divisions within Maine CDC to provide medical expertise for other health conditions.
• Infrequently, and only in extreme circumstances, provide on-call coverage or work outside of regular business hours to ensure timely and appropriate management of severe lead poisoning or other serious environmental health incidents.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays
• 12 days of sick leave
• 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums
• Health Insurance Premium Credit
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager