Epidemiologist II

Job Description:
Under the direction of the tuberculosis (TB) program manager, performs advanced epidemiological work. Work involves conducting assessment of genotyping clusters and contact investigations performed by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) public health regions (PHRs) and local health departments’ (LHDs) TB programs. Provides guidance to PHRs and LHDs on managing TB outbreaks and complex investigations. Serves as the subject matter expert on investigating TB outbreaks and performing contact investigations. Participates in developing program protocols for conducting contact investigations in high profile settings such as academic institutions, congregate settings and other media-sensitive environments. Receives TB incident reports from PHRs and LHDs and evaluates requests to perform TB screenings in academic institutions, congregate settings and other media sensitive environments. Participates and provides epidemiologic direction in high profile contact investigations. Prepares epidemiologic reports on TB outbreaks, complex and high profile contact investigations. Works to establish epidemiologic linkages based on cluster investigations. Performs social network analysis. Essential Job Functions:
Genotyping coordination (40%). Routinely monitors TB genotyping information management systems (TB GIMS) to identify medium and high concerning clusters. Notifies PHRs and LHDs of medium and high concerning clusters and provides guidance to PHRs and LHDs to perform cluster investigations. Participates in developing and maintaining policies and procedures on genotyping and TB cluster investigations and management. Evaluates and approves requests to investigate genotyped clusters. Oversees cluster investigations involving congregate settings, places of employment and other media sensitive environments. Supports PHRs and LHDs in evaluating genotyped clusters. Develops resources that facilitate management of genotyped clusters and cluster alerts. Provides guidance on expanding cluster investigations; and advises HSR and LHD TB staff on genotyping information. Researches epidemiologic linkages based on cluster investigations including identifying false positive AFB culture reports; makes recommendations to determine associations; review results of the investigations and presents case studies for training purposes. Participates on CDC-directed genotyping conference calls. Serves as a subject matter expert in the development, testing and rollout of the statewide TB case management and surveillance system regarding genotyping.
Contact investigation coordination (35%). Reviews TB incident reports submitted by DSHS PHRs and LHD TB programs. Evaluates requests to perform large scale investigations in which 50 or more persons are considered for testing. Provides guidance to health service regions and local health departments on managing TB outbreaks and complex investigations. Participates in developing and maintaining policies and procedures on contact investigations and TB outbreak management involving academic institutions, congregate settings and other places of employment. Oversees investigations involving congregate settings, places of employment and other media sensitive environments. Supports health service regions and local health departments in evaluating contact investigation efforts. Develops resources that facilitates managing contact investigations; develops templates using EXCEL to quantify infection rates and to guide expanding contact investigations; develops template for preparing local epidemiologic reports; prepares and guides local TB staff in using social network analysis. Assists health service regions and local health departments in conducting complex contact investigations and outbreak management; participates and provides on-site epidemiologic direction in high profile contact investigations. Evaluates contact investigation outcomes. Reviews contact aggregate reports against expected outcomes. Develops and evaluates plan to improve contact investigation outcomes. Maintains data profile on confirmed TB outbreaks, investigations involving media sensitive environments and other places of employment to include congregate settings and academic institutions. Prepares epidemiologic reports on key contact investigation activities. Serves as a resource on TB infection rates in communities throughout Texas.
Multi-state/International TB exposures (10%). Coordinates all airline, land or sea exposure notification received through CDC Epi-X; notifies PHRs and LHDs of airline, land or sea exposures received through Epi-X for follow-up and reporting. Assures all notifications are addressed within appropriate time frames including preparing and submitting responses to the requestor.
Workforce development (10%). Participates in quarterly new employee orientation seminars. Coordinates genotyping training and assists with contact investigation training. Develops processes to evaluate funded TB programs using genotyping data. Develops resources and reports that facilitate managing contact investigations; quantifies infection rates to guide expanding contact investigations; prepares and guides local TB staff in using social network analysis.
Other duties as assigned (5%). 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.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of epidemiology principles and Texas public health laws regarding the control and reporting of notifiable conditions.
Extensive knowledge of TB or HIV/STD contact investigation practices
Knowledge of transmission of infectious diseases.
Extensive knowledge of epidemiology practices and medical terminology.
Knowledge of current social, economic and public health issues.
Knowledge of data management and statistical methods.
Skill in mathematical computation.
Skill using databases, spreadsheet and graphical/statistical software packages including Access, Excel, SPSS, SAS, and PowerPoint.
Skill in interpreting diagnostic laboratory results and information from medical charts.
Skill in written communication including editing.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences, including lay audiences.
Ability to comply with DSHS standards of conduct, guiding principles, and department policies and procedures.
Ability to conduct trainings and make public presentations.
Ability to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
Ability to plan, develop and oversee TB outbreaks and contact investigation activities. Ability to prepare written reports and develop and implement policies and procedures. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, management, representatives of local medical and public health communities, the media and the general public.
Ability to assemble, summarize and interpret pertinent technical literature.
Ability to identify problems and implement appropriate solutions.
Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgment.
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment using tact and diplomacy
Ability to initiate projects and work on multiple projects at the same time.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and work discreetly.

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