Epidemiologist and GIS Analyst
Position Description
The incumbent in this position is responsible for the following: case and outbreak investigation, community education and inquiries, and emergency preparedness and response duties.
Case and Outbreak Investigation:
- Investigate cases of reportable diseases other than tuberculosis, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Implement appropriate control measures following the Code of Maryland Regulations and DHMH policies and guidelines.
- Document all pertinent information during each case and outbreak investigation.
- Maintain current knowledge of the pathogenicity, incubation period, mode of transmission, methods of control, and policies for the most commonly reported diseases.
- Have the ability to search journal articles and literature in the internet or resource manuals to maintain current knowledge of disease control and prevention measures.
- Perform disease and outbreak investigations based on epidemiological methods of collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Conduct on-site visits to follow-up with cases.
- Accompany the Environmental Health sanitarian to inspections of facilities associated with disease or outbreak investigations.
- Have the ability to use a statistical software package (e.g, Epi Info, SPSS, SAS) to conduct epidemiological studies.
- Assist in entering, updating patient data and producing disease reports in NEDSS.
- Monitor disease and outbreak trends by extrapolating data from the following disease surveillance databases (MERSS, NEDSS, ACD database).
- Communicate updates of epidemiological findings to other programs in the health department involved in the disease or outbreak investigation.
- Collaborate and consult with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and surrounding counties during outbreaks and cross-jurisdictional investigations.
- Document completion of outbreak investigations by completing the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene outbreak final reports and/or summarizing the method, results and epidemiological findings in a narrative report.
- Present epidemiological findings of disease importance to public health colleagues.
- Attend meetings and trainings related to communicable disease control and prevention and emergency preparedness and response.
- Assist in the cross-training of staff in the health department to conduct disease and outbreak investigation.
- Participate in the after-business-hours on-call response to communicable disease emergencies and investigations.
- Publish journal articles or abstracts on investigations of novel and interesting epidemiological studies and findings.
Community Education and Inquiries:
- Respond to numerous public and health provider inquiries about various communicable diseases and be able to communicate effectively and concisely the appropriate information.
- Participate in community and health provider disease education sessions or emergency preparedness talks and must be available to perform on-site visits when needed.
Emergency Preparedness and Response:
- Participate in emergency preparedness related training, exercises and drills and assist the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) in planning and response.
- Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to map epidemiological data, emergency call trends, and site information on various city buildings for emergency planning and response.
- Assist and cross-train with Lead Surveillance Analyst in the management of daily operation of biosurveillance for BCHD including collection of raw surveillance data from several sources including Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hospital EMS, local pharmaceutical retailers, etc.
- Analyze data in collaboration with external partners, including Baltimore City hospitals, other city agencies, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Institute for EMS Systems (MIEMSS), surrounding local health departments, local medical care providers, universities and others.
- Respond to emergency events within the city as directed by the Health Commissioner and fulfill role within chain of command in the Incident Command Structure (ICS).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
A Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, emergency health services or other related field is preferred.
At least two years of epidemiological experience within the public health arena is preferred.
Salary: approx. $50,000 (negotiable)
Please submit resume with cover letter by May 9, 2008 to:
Mary Grace Munoz, Acute Communicable Disease and
Meghan Butasek, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response
Baltimore City Health Dept
210 Guilford Ave., 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
-or-
MaryGrace.Munoz@baltimorecity.gov and
Meghan.Butasek@baltimorecity.gov
