MDRO/AR Epidemiologist II

About the role

Under the supervision of the Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)/Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Epidemiology Manager in the Healthcare Safety Unit, serves as subject matter expert and performs advanced (senior-level) epidemiological work related to AR and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Work involves planning, coordinating and conducting epidemiological surveillance, data entry, data management, quality assurance audits, education, and providing technical assistance. The AR Epidemiologist designs and implements complex data collection systems, analyzes data expertly using epidemiological and statistical significance methods, interprets findings, and disseminates results to DSHS internal and external stakeholders, including healthcare facilities, health departments' epidemiologists and the general community through presentations, written reports, and other communication materials. Provides technical assistance to stakeholders. May participate in outbreak response, public health investigations, grant and quality improvement initiatives, and special projects. The AR Epidemiologist may be deployed to assist with emerging and infectious disease outbreak response.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates and conducts epidemiological surveillance including data collection and data management for AR organisms and MDROs.
• Conducts data entry, quality assurance activities, and maintenance of AR and MDRO data within surveillance systems, including the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) based system (NBS) and Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).
• Reviews reporting requirements and ensures surveillance systems capture required data; reviews laboratory reports, case investigations, and surveillance data to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Maintains large datasets, including a dashboard of statewide AR and MDRO data.
• Designs and implements data collection systems; analyzes data using epidemiological and statistical significance methods.
• Assists to provide data to policy makers, public health practitioners, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Assists Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Epidemiologists with investigations by preparing epidemiological reports, data summaries, and recommendations based on surveillance findings.
• Supports continuous quality improvement of surveillance and reporting processes.
• Provides technical assistance, consultation, and trainings to healthcare facilities, local health departments, laboratories, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, and other stakeholders.
• Assists in developing educational materials and training resources related to AR organisms and notifiable MDROs.
• Participates in staff onboarding and mentoring activities.
• Contributes subject matter expertise for the surveillance of AR organisms and MDROs and responds to relevant inquiries.
• Supports statewide surveillance efforts related to prevention, response, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Assists with the HAI/AR Investigations Group grants, including writing work plans, making recommendations for budgets, carrying out and tracking activities, and reporting milestones and performance measures.
• Manages projects and helps prioritize tasks to ensure their timely completion.
• Serves as a liaison with local health departments, healthcare facilities, public health agencies, laboratories, and federal partners to support statewide antimicrobial resistance prevention and response efforts.
• Participates in internal and external meetings, workgroups, and collaborative projects.
• Assists in reviewing and updating epidemiology guidance documents.
• Prepares written reports, correspondence, presentations, and other communication materials.
• Responds to legislative requests and inquiries from the DSHS Press Office as requested by DSHS leadership.
• Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) activation, which may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution with major coursework in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related field.
• Minimum two years of relevant experience (e.g., public health epidemiology, public health surveillance, data analysis).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics necessary for public health surveillance, investigations, and research.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of public health disease surveillance of antimicrobial resistant organisms, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and other infectious diseases.
• Knowledge of public health informatics and electronic database surveillance systems including the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS).
• Knowledge of techniques used to evaluate the effectiveness of information reporting systems.
• Knowledge of state statutes and rules related to notifiable conditions and public health surveillance.
• Knowledge of data quality control and data quality management practices.
• Skills in managing and maintaining large databases and surveillance systems.
• Skills in data management and quality assurance.
• Skills in data analysis and interpretation of large datasets.
• Skills in preparing written reports.
• Skills in creating technical documents.
• Skills in preparing presentations of surveillance findings.
• Skills in using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Skills in stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
• Ability to develop recommendations based on data analysis and epidemiological findings.
• Ability to present epidemiological and surveillance data.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly, concisely, and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to interpret public health laws of the State of Texas.
• Ability to independently analyze complex issues, draw conclusions, and initiate appropriate action.
• Ability to identify ineffective surveillance processes and recommend improvements.
• Ability to work independently and with a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and adapt to changing priorities.

Certifications

• Must obtain Associate-Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC) within 15 months of hire.