Measles Epidemiologist

Wiserhunt•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Measles Epidemiologist works to minimize measles-related morbidity and mortality among Indiana residents by conducting investigative and analytical epidemiological activities and measles surveillance. The role provides technical assistance to health care providers, local health departments, the public, and other audiences; coordinates diagnostic testing with IDOH Laboratories and other partners; and conducts disease surveillance using systems such as NBS and ESSENCE. The epidemiologist also develops educational materials, assists with case and outbreak surveillance and investigations, and provides surge support for data entry and laboratory results. If applicable to the program area, the employee may serve as the IDOH epidemiologist on call during non-business hours for approximately two to three weeks per year and serve as backup to other staff. The employee performs most activities independently under general supervisory direction, consulting with the supervisor on complex or unusual situations. The role involves collaboration with the CDC, IDOH Laboratories, health care providers, local health departments, state agencies, and other partners. The employee must protect patient confidentiality, follow state and federal privacy laws and agency policies, and provide professional, culturally sensitive customer service. Work is performed in a standard office environment, with occasional and/or overnight travel. The work arrangement is hybrid.

Requirements

Meet one of the listed education and public health experience combinations: a relevant master's degree; a non-relevant master's degree and at least 2 years of public health experience; a relevant bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of public health experience; a non-relevant bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of public health experience; or a high school diploma/GED and at least 8 years of public health experience.
Quickly acquire detailed knowledge of diseases or public health topics relevant to the position.
Assess public health threats by gathering and interpreting relevant information.
Interpret and communicate state regulations and public health guidance documents.
Identify appropriate indications for public health laboratory testing and interventions for disease prevention.
Perform descriptive analyses of surveillance data, identify key findings and data limitations, and support surveillance-system evaluation.
Prepare written and oral reports, presentations, and educational materials.
Elicit relevant information from patients during structured or unstructured telephone interviews.
Use appropriate informatics tools and be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Design and execute epidemiologic or other relevant scientific studies.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing, collaborate with partners, prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, and maintain organized records.
Complete essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Protect patient confidentiality and have knowledge of state and federal privacy laws.

Nice To Haves

Experience with disease or syndromic surveillance systems such as NBS or ESSENCE.
Experience assisting with investigations, ideally involving vaccine-preventable or communicable diseases.
Experience conducting descriptive analyses of surveillance data, including identifying key findings and data limitations.
Experience preparing written and oral reports, presentations, and educational materials.
Experience with statistical or geospatial software such as Epi Info, SAS, ArcGIS, or similar.
Experience designing and executing epidemiologic studies.
Experience conducting patient telephone interviews.
Experience working with the CDC, laboratories, local health departments, and health care providers.
Knowledge of state public health regulations and privacy laws, such as HIPAA.
Experience with risk assessment, prioritization, and record keeping.

Responsibilities

Provide prompt technical assistance to health care providers, local health departments, members of the public, and other audiences.
Coordinate with IDOH Laboratories, health care providers, local health departments, and members of the public to arrange prompt diagnostic testing where appropriate.
Conduct disease and public health surveillance using the state electronic disease surveillance system (NBS), the state syndromic surveillance system (ESSENCE), and other appropriate systems.
Develop educational materials for health care providers, local health departments, the public, and other audiences.
Assist with surveillance and investigation of individual cases and outbreaks.
Provide surge capacity for data entry of relevant reports and laboratory results as needed.
If applicable to the program area, serve as the IDOH epidemiologist on call during non-business hours for approximately two to three weeks per year.
Serve as backup to other staff as necessary.
Gather and interpret information to assess public health threats, conduct risk assessments, and identify appropriate interventions.
Perform descriptive analyses of surveillance data, identify key findings and data limitations, and support evaluation of surveillance systems.
Prepare written and oral reports, presentations, and educational materials for internal and external partners.
Conduct telephone interviews with patients and elicit relevant information.
Document work activities and maintain organized records.
Identify and execute process improvements or special projects that benefit IDOH and Indiana residents.
Protect patient confidentiality, comply with agency policies, and identify and raise possible ethical conflicts with the supervisor.
Maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners and provide customer service to agency partners and the public.