Public Health Advisor, Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and STI

City of New York • Long Island City, NY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)’s Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BHHS) oversees the City’s response to viral hepatitis, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Its mission is to improve the lives of New Yorkers by ending transmission, illness, stigma, and inequities related to viral hepatitis, HIV, and STIs. BHHS’s work includes testing initiatives; prevention, care, and treatment programming; epidemiology and surveillance; training and technical assistance; community engagement; social marketing; policy advocacy; and racial equity and social justice initiatives. The HIV Surveillance Unit in the HIV Epidemiology Program (HEP) is responsible for the surveillance of HIV and AIDS in New York City and for generating the accurate case counts and complete descriptive data on diagnoses, clinical status, laboratory test results, and mortality that are needed to monitor epidemic trajectory and guide public health decision-making. Surveillance objectives include: 1) To describe HIV transmission occurring in NYC; 2) To count and describe new HIV diagnoses and new AIDS diagnoses, including timing of initial diagnosis relative to infection and progression to AIDS; 3) To count and describe people living with HIV/AIDS in NYC, including how and where they became infected, health status, care status, and vital status.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by twelve semester credits in health education, or in health, social or biological sciences; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and six months of full-time satisfactory experience in a health promotion or disease intervention/prevention program, performing one or more of the following: interviewing, conducting field investigations, assessing health risks, making referrals, or collecting and analyzing epidemiological data; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and four years of full-time satisfactory experience as described in "2" above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2" or "3" above. Undergraduate college credit can be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for one year of full-time experience.
• All candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and either twelve semester credits as described in "1" above or six months of experience as described in "2" above.
• To be assigned to Assignment Level II, candidates must have, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements listed above, at least one year of experience as a Public Health Adviser, Assignment Level I, or at least one additional year of experience as described in Qualification Requirement "2" above.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting surveillance case investigations in public health practice, specifically medical chart review.
• Responsible and thorough in their review of data collected by team.
• Excellent interpersonal, research, written and verbal communication skills, and will be detail-oriented with outstanding organizational skills.
• Able to multi-task in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Proficient in using various computer programs and databases.
• Experience working in MS Office (Word, MS Excel) and other programs.
• Open and willing to learn new computer programs as necessary.
• Demonstrate ability to work professionally with a diverse staff of public health investigators, epidemiologists, analysts, as well as medical providers and personnel at facilities where data collection will occur.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field investigations and follow-up of potential cases of HIV/AIDS as assigned in a professional and collaborative manner. Regular travel within 5 boroughs of NYC is required.
• Collect data through medical chart abstractions and ensure that the data collected is complete and accurate.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with assigned providers and facilities and must maintain communication with key contacts and updates the program for changes to the facility.
• Conduct routine match reviews as assigned and in a timely fashion. Matches must be completed with attention to detail.
• Collect Provider Report Forms (PRFs) from medical providers and process the forms according to protocol. Check PRFs for completion and train providers in correct procedures regarding reporting.
• Maintain understanding of all data collection processes and instruments.
• Attend surveillance staff meetings with public health investigators and supervisors and contribute to surveillance unit meetings, in particular by communicating surveillance data collection issues and challenges to the wider group of the unit.
• Perform administrative duties to support the operation of the Surveillance Unit as assigned by supervisor or leadership. Administrative duties may include staffing phone desk.
• Participate in special investigations acutely related to collecting data on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on HIV epidemiology and mortality.
• Attend all mandatory meetings.

Benefits

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance.
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• a tax-deferred savings program and
• a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

What This Job Offers

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