03/29/2010 34495

EPIDEMIOLOGIST SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory and scientific work in public health epidemiology within the Department of Health.

An employee in this job supervises Epidemiologists engaged in directing epidemiological investigations for statewide public health programs in the Bureau of Epidemiology. Work involves supervising Epidemiologists providing scientific and technical consultation in the expert analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data and in the control of infectious, chronic, environmental and other types of community health threats. Work also involves providing advisement to lower level technical and professional epidemiological staff, public health professionals, and program managers in the Department; municipal, county and local health departments; other state agencies; public and private health organizations; the medical community; and the public on epidemiology
and disease control issues. An employee in this job supports the development of statewide plans, policies and procedures for epidemiology, disease control and related issues. Work may include managing the design and development of epidemiological database activities for assigned statewide public health programs. Work may also include coordinating statewide programs for preventive medicine, public health education, or other assigned public health services with other
epidemiological program areas. An employee is this job supervises Epidemiologists and works with considerable independence under the direction of an Epidemiologist Manager or higher-level administrator. Work is reviewed for achievement of established objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Supervises Epidemiologists in the Bureau of Epidemiology.

Supervises Public Health Physicians.

Supervises the design and conduct of epidemiological research studies in response to a disease or other outbreak.

Reviews epidemiological reports and directs the interpretation of findings.

Advises public and private health professionals on issues of epidemiologic investigation and control.

Supervises the writing of grants and performs administrative functions for assigned epidemiology or public health programs.

Provides input into the development of statewide plans, policies and procedures for epidemiology, disease control and related issues.

Supervises evaluations for compliance with epidemiology and disease control program standards for the Department of Health and municipal, county and local health departments.

Supervises consultation to Department, other state agencies, municipal, county and local health departments, public and private health organizations, the medical community, and the public on epidemiology and disease control issues.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

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

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of epidemiological disease disciplines and methodological approaches.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemic or endemic disease control.

Knowledge of the general principles of population studies.

Knowledge of public health laws and regulations.

Knowledge of epidemiological research methodology.

Knowledge of the analysis, and interpretation and presentation of epidemiological data.

Knowledge of laboratory diagnostic and survey techniques.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as an Epidemiologist (Commonwealth of PA job title);

or

Possession of either a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in epidemiology, Doctoral degree in Medicine (MD), Osteopathy (DO), Dental Surgery/Medicine (DDS/DDM/DMD), or Veterinary Medicine (DVM); AND three years of professional experience investigating disease outbreaks, designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, or designing and maintaining a disease surveillance system;

or

Possession of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in a biological science such as biology, genetics, nursing or virology; AND either a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or Master of Science (MS) degree in epidemiology; AND three years of professional experience investigating disease outbreaks, designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, or designing and maintaining a disease surveillance system.