Medical Screening Epidemiologist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Medical Screening Unit Quality Improvement and Testing Support Branch Manager, performs advanced (senior-level) epidemiological work and serves as an epidemiologic expert for the DSHS Laboratory. Provides and coordinates data analysis of newborn screening and clinical chemistry testing results to implement prevention and control measures, improve testing quality, and optimize outcomes for Texas public health initiatives. Assists with coordinating and performing NBS programmatic evaluations.

Requirements

• Knowledge of major functions of public health.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics; of infectious diseases, adverse reproductive outcomes, cancer, or other chronic diseases; of occupational and environmental diseases or injuries; and of how causes of disease affect epidemiologic practices.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to newborn screening.
• Knowledge of complex inferential statistical methods.
• Knowledge of statistical concepts, and their applications to public health surveillance and research.
• Knowledge of the health status, socioeconomic and demographic measures used in public health.
• Knowledge of population, socioeconomic and health outcomes data sources.
• Knowledge of programming logic and scripting.
• Knowledge of human subjects protections and issues of confidentiality
• Proficient in programming in statistical analysis system (SAS), statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), or R analytic software.
• Proficient in epidemiologic project management.
• Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance.
• Skill in using PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access, Windows, and Internet.
• Skill in using internet publishing/graphics presentation software such as Tableau.
• Skill in information management systems.
• Skill in problem solving and working independently.
• Skill in developing presentations for diverse audiences.
• Skill in public speaking.
• Skill in collection and handling of protected health data and other confidential records.
• Skill in creating, maintaining, and using electronic reports and spreadsheets.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience in writing technical reports and grant and manuscript preparation.
• Skill in both verbal and written communications.
• Ability to plan, conduct, and report on epidemiological investigations.
• Ability to manipulate and analyze large, complex data sets.
• Ability to develop, coordinate, and implement studies and statistical analysis plans for epidemiologic surveillance and program evaluation.
• Ability to identify relationships and trends in data as well as factors that could affect the results of research and impact health outcomes of infants.
• Ability to identify programmatic problems and to develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize projects, time, and workload assignments for epidemiologic projects.
• Ability to engage with diverse audiences and multiple stakeholders, including public speaking.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; complex information to inform, persuade, and influence a wide range of audiences; including orally via the telephone and by personal contact.
• Ability to evaluate the impact of new or modified processes on shared nbs program goals and outcomes.
• Ability to collaborate across agencies and programs to meet shared goals.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to maintain several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and procedures.
• Ability to complete tasks without close supervision and use considerable discretion and mature judgment in interactions with public and interpretation of protected health data.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and show initiative.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to train, lead, and prioritize staff workload; and to supervise the work of others.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university with coursework in statistics, epidemiology, social science, computational biology, or related subjects.
• Two years of full-time experience in public health, disease epidemiology, or program evaluation.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in newborn screening is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Initiates, develops, organizes, and prepares protocols to investigate and improve the quality of public health laboratory testing and follow-up protocols, including managing program epidemiologic projects.
• Provides expertise in the design, management, and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
• Determines the appropriate formats for epidemiological reports and coordinates the technical preparation, graphics design, and compilation of finished reports.
• Performs research activities to develop methodologies and improve processes to ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals affected by conditions identified in laboratory testing, including newborn screening, microbiology, and clinical chemistry.
• Monitors and evaluates program operations for quality and effectiveness and makes recommendations for improvement of processes and procedures.
• Monitors program data and epidemiologic investigation reports for accuracy.
• Performs data audits to identify trends and patterns to recommend control measures.
• Prepares administrative reports related to public health laboratory testing.
• Prepares presentations, communications materials, press releases, and other media-related materials.
• Coordinates and implements analysis on programmatic and service-related data such as Maternal and Child Health data.
• Provides consultative services and technical assistance to physicians, educators, researchers, government health officials and others regarding best practices based on analysis findings.
• Plans, administers, and evaluates health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others.
• Participates in development and implementation of public health issues related to laboratory testing and their impact on public policies or scientific studies or surveys.
• Identifies areas of collaboration with partners to achieve public health program objectives.
• Manages public health laboratory epidemiologic projects.
• Designs and implements surveillance processes for adverse health conditions and conducts evaluations of surveillance processes.
• Coordinates activities related to the reporting of epidemiological investigations.
• May serve as the liaison between the DSHS laboratory and scientific/lab community, stakeholders, and other healthcare professionals.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

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