Epidemiology Investigator 3 - 20015098

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

8d

About The Position

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. Our agency is committed to building a modern, vibrant public health system that creates the conditions where all Ohioans flourish. The goal of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases (BID) is to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., foodborne outbreaks, general infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infections, influenza, meningitis, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases, waterborne outbreaks, zoonotic diseases and vector-borne diseases). The bureau works closely with local health departments (LHDs), healthcare providers and laboratories to ensure that infectious disease reports are reviewed and investigated timely; the program provides technical expertise and coordination to LHDs, healthcare providers, laboratories and where appropriate, the general public.

As Perinatal Hepatitis B Coordinator, your role involves lifesaving interventions to protect infants born to hepatitis B positive mothers in Ohio. Medication, combined with local health jurisdiction case management, greatly reduces the likelihood that these children become hepatitis B positive. Without postexposure immunoprophylaxis, approximately 40% of infants born to HBV-infected mothers in the United States will develop chronic HBV infection... and about one-fourth of this group will eventually die from chronic liver disease. This program saves lives and is essential to fulfilling the mission of our agency.

Requirements

• Completion of graduate core program in public health or preventive medicine; 3 courses or 9 mos. exp. in use of statistical computer software packages; 6 mos. exp. as epidemiology investigator with local or federal health agency; must be able to provide own transportation
• OR 6 mos. exp. as Epidemiology Investigator 2, 65762; must be able to provide own transportation.
• OR Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate or advanced degree in public health or preventive medicine
• Courses in epidemiology.
• Experience working with statewide epidemiologic databases.
• Experience with case finding and active follow-up (e.g., case management) for an infectious disease or health condition
• Experience in statistical software (e.g., SAS, STATA or SPSS)
• Experience interpreting and conducting a statistical analysis of health-related data
• Experience working outbreak investigations
• Experience as a lead worker

Responsibilities

• Initiates, designs, and conducts epidemiologic investigations
• Coordinates database management and quality control
• Serves as lead worker (i.e., provides work direction and training) over lower-level epidemiology investigators and support staff
• Evaluates confidential case reports for accuracy and completeness against CDC and Ohio case definitions; contacts jurisdictions for missing information.
• Monitors and assesses incidence, prevalence and changing distribution of infants enrolled in perinatal hepatitis B prevention program
• Provides technical advice on multiple topics to other employees and outside agencies (i.e., perinatal hepatitis B surveillance methods, case finding, data collection, timely interventions, active follow-up, testing guidelines)
• Assists in program evaluation, including conducting site visits to assess vaccine storage of enrolled Perinatal Hepatitis B Universal Birth Dose birthing facilities.
• Tabulates and analyzes epidemiologic data; uses statistical software packages (e.g., Epi Info, SAS, STATA)
• Plans, writes, and produces reports, including data posted on ODH website and/or graphical presentation

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems ( such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS ) & Optional Deferred Compensation ( Ohio Deferred Compensation )

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees