Measles Epidemiologist I

About the Role

The Epidemiologist provides technical assistance to healthcare providers, local health departments, and the public. This role involves coordinating diagnostic testing, conducting disease surveillance, supporting case and outbreak investigations, developing educational materials, and providing backup support for other staff. The position may also involve serving as the IDOH epidemiologist on call during non-business hours for approximately two to three weeks per year.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide prompt technical assistance to health care providers, local health departments, the public, and other audiences.
• Coordinate diagnostic testing for diseases and public health topics with IDOH Laboratories, healthcare providers, and local health departments.
• Conduct disease and public health surveillance using NBS, ESSENCE, and other systems.
• Develop educational materials for various audiences.
• Assist with surveillance and investigation of individual cases and outbreaks.
• Provide surge capacity for data entry of relevant reports and laboratory results.
• Serve as the IDOH epidemiologist on call during non-business hours for approximately two to three weeks per year (if applicable).
• Serve as backup support for other staff.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education/Experience

Must meet one of the following:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, biological sciences, social sciences); OR
• Master’s degree in a non-relevant field and 2 years of public health experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, biological sciences, social sciences) and 2 years of public health experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a non-relevant field and 4 years of public health experience; OR
• High school diploma or GED and 8 years of public health experience.

Skills

• Ability to quickly acquire detailed knowledge of diseases or public health topics.
• Ability to ascertain public health threats by gathering and interpreting information.
• Ability to interpret and communicate state regulations and public health guidance.
• Ability to identify appropriate indications for public health laboratory testing.
• Ability to identify appropriate interventions for disease prevention.
• Ability to perform descriptive analyses of surveillance data and identify key findings.
• Ability to identify limitations of surveillance data and support evaluation of surveillance systems.
• Ability to prepare written and oral reports, presentations, and educational materials.
• Ability to elicit relevant information from patients in telephone interviews.
• Ability to use appropriate informatics tools.
• Ability to provide prompt, courteous, and helpful customer service.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Ability to document work activities and maintain organized records.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to design and execute epidemiologic or other relevant scientific studies.
• Competence in statistical and/or geospatial software (e.g., Epi Info, SAS, ArcGIS).

Core Competencies

• Critical thinking and independent judgment.
• Initiative in identifying and executing process improvements and special projects.
• Composure and professionalism when interacting with distressed individuals.
• Knowledge of state and federal privacy laws and commitment to protecting patient confidentiality.
• Ability to identify possible ethical conflicts and seek supervisor assistance.
• Cultural sensitivity.
• Independent completion of most work activities with supervisor direction as needed.
• Effective collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder relationship management.
• Commitment to professional development.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Occasional and/or overnight travel required.
• May require serving as the IDOH epidemiologist on call (if applicable).
• Extended periods of sitting may be expected.
• Depending on duties, may involve frequent walking, standing, climbing, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and similar movements.

Physical Requirements

• Use of limbs/fingers for manual functions.
• Operation of complex manual and electric powered equipment or hand-tools.
• Ability to lift/transport items up to 50 lbs.
• Correctable vision may be required.
• Full ability to talk and hear.