JOB TITLE: PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN

JOB CODE: 34470

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible professional and scientific work administering the statewide veterinary public health program in the Department of Health.

The employee in this job provides program direction, subject matter expertise, and consultation on veterinary public health epidemiology and preventive medicine in order to protect the public from exposure to zoonotic and vector borne diseases. Work involves directing the investigation, surveillance, control, and reporting of zoonotic and vector borne disease agents, including infectious diseases, communicable diseases, and endemic and emerging threats; directing, designing, and implementing intervention and prevention strategies; and developing, implementing, and coordinating related plans, policies, and procedures. An important aspect of the work is coordinating with other state, federal, and international agencies to evaluate the commonwealth’s disaster and epidemic planning, preparedness, and response activities in order to ensure that the commonwealth’s program is prepared for all potential zoonotic and vector borne disease threats, including but not limited to bioterrorism, agroterrorism, food safety issues, and foreign animal diseases. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher level administrator and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Provides consultative services to department executives and staff; other state agencies; municipal, county, and local health departments; public and private health organizations; the medical community; and the public on statewide veterinary public health, veterinary preventive medicine, and zoonotic, vector borne, or related disease issues.

• Develops statewide plans, policies, and procedures to ensure that mandated communicable disease and infectious disease public health reporting is coordinated with, and incorporates, zoonosis infectious disease reporting.

• Designs, conducts, and publishes veterinary public health epidemiology assessments of zoonotic or vector borne infectious disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and concerns, and public health implications.

• Leads and directs epidemiological staff in the investigation of zoonotic and vector borne disease agents.

• Provides subject matter expertise to, and serves on, groups such as the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, BioWatch Advisory Committee, Chronic Wasting Disease Taskforce, Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program, and Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council.

• Manages the implementation and maintenance of disease surveillance systems.

• Analyzes data, reviews reports and statistics, interprets findings, and prepares final reports on studies.

• Provides public relations support including participating in news conferences, preparing news releases, and preparing and delivering formal presentations.

• Provides expert testimony at court hearings.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of veterinary public health medicine.

• Knowledge of veterinary preventive medicine.

• Knowledge of animal health regulations.

• Knowledge of public health regulations.

• Knowledge of disease control methods for veterinary public health diseases.

• Knowledge of epidemiological research methodology.

• Knowledge of laboratory diagnostic techniques used in identifying and reporting veterinary public health, zoonotic, and vector borne diseases.

• Ability to analyze and interpret data.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be evaluated by the State Civil Service Commission or used for Civil Service examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.):

• Ability to provide expert testimony on veterinary public health, veterinary medicine, and zoonotic and vector borne diseases on behalf of the department.

• Ability to develop and implement public health programs intended to control and prevent zoonotic public health impacts.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Three years of professional experience investigating zoonotic disease outbreaks or clusters, including or supplemented by one year designing or maintaining zoonotic disease surveillance systems, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris degree;

or

Two years of professional experience investigating zoonotic disease outbreaks or clusters, including or supplemented by one year designing or maintaining zoonotic disease surveillance systems, and a Master’s degree in Public Health or Epidemiology, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris degree.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• The employee must obtain an active license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine as a condition of hire.