Epidemiologist

Definition

This classification in the Public Health Division is characterized by professional responsibility for providing a departmental-wide framework for appraising the health status of the community, including determining local morbidity levels and patterns of disease and assisting in monitoring the effectiveness of public health activities in addressing community health indicators.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification involves applying sound health equity principles to data collection, analysis, and interpretation; establishing and maintaining surveillance systems to identify and monitor communicable and chronic disease (including injury) and health risk behavior trends among various population groups; investigating epidemics or outbreaks of diseases, either by field participation or by analysis of pertinent data to determine the cause and probable source of disease; making actionable recommendations based off data analysis and advising on the interpretation and implication of statistical analysis, survey data, and program evaluations; providing quantitative and qualitative data and recommendations regarding design and implementation of including (but not limited to): Public Health Accreditation, community health assessment; equity assessments, program assessments, and division assessments; participating in community activities such as surveys and meetings; making informational presentations to professionals, policy makers, media, and the public; serving as a consultant on active or potential disease patterns, causation, potential remedial actions and other relevant local health information to physicians, nurses, community leaders, public health officials, media, and the public; participating in agency strategic planning activities including development of objectives and measures of success; utilizing and improving computer-based storage, retrieval, and analysis systems for epidemiologic studies and analysis; developing forms and written procedures to gather and organize data; writing a variety of reports for the Public Health Division and others as directed, to explain findings including preparing readily understandable tables and graphs; translating data into culturally and linguistically appropriate information abiding by health literacy principles; completing secondary data gathering and analysis, gap analysis, and asset mapping. Providing dashboard development and public surveillance data presentation. Assisting with data audits; instructing department staff in gathering data, entering information into data systems, and performing less difficult statistical analyses to extract useful health information; participating in the development and preparation of project proposals for state, federal, and private foundation funding; performing other duties as assigned.

Example of Duties

• Apply sound health equity principles to data collection, analysis, and interpretation;

• Establish and/or maintain surveillance systems to identify and monitor communicable and chronic disease (including injury) and health risk behavior trends among various population groups (methods include (but are not limited to): reviewing and monitoring case histories, health statistics, surveys, demographic data and laboratory results to identify epidemiologic trends);

• Investigate epidemics or outbreaks of diseases, either by field participation or by analysis of pertinent data to determine the cause and probable source of disease;

• Make actionable recommendations based off data analysis and advise on the interpretation and implication of statistical analysis, survey data, and program evaluations;

• Provide quantitative and qualitative data (including collection and analysis) and recommendations regarding design and implementation of including (but not limited to): Public Health Accreditation, community health assessment; equity assessments, program assessments, and division assessments;

• Participate as a departmental representative in community activities such as surveys and meetings;

• Make informational presentations to professionals, policy makers, media, and the public;

• Serve as consultant on active or potential disease patterns, causation, potential remedial actions and other relevant local health information to physicians, nurses, community leaders, public health officials, media, and the public;

• Participate in agency strategic planning activities including development of objectives and measures of success;

• Utilize and improve computer-based storage, retrieval, and analysis systems for epidemiologic studies and analysis;

• Develop forms and written procedures to gather and organize data;

• Write a variety of reports for the Public Health Division and others as directed, to explain findings including prepare readily understood tables and graphs;

• Translate data into culturally and linguistically appropriate information abiding by health literacy principles;

• Complete secondary data gathering and analysis, gap analysis, and asset mapping. Provide dashboard development and public surveillance data presentation. Assist with data audits;

• Instruct department staff in gathering data, entering information into data systems, and performing less difficult statistical analyses to extract useful health information;

• Participate in the development and preparation of project proposals for state, federal, and private foundation funding;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related public health field with coursework in both epidemiology and biostatistics.

• Experience: Three to five years of experience in designing and conducting epidemiological investigations or studies and interpreting epidemiological or demographic data.