Designs and leads long term epidemiologic investigations, surveillance, and interventions with significant impact on public health and the agency's resources.
This class represents the expert level for the epidemiologist series. Under limited supervision, employees in this classification perform the most complex investigations and research, as well as lead teams in monitoring epidemic outbreaks. May function as a principal investigator in overseeing the collection, analysis, and interpretation of complex statistical data and the preparation of epidemiologic reports requiring extensive knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics.
Leads project teams to design, implement, and evaluate demographic, environmental, and epidemiologic studies relating to public health problems in order to research and possibly prevent recurrence of health problems. Advises agency personnel in biostatistical, epidemiological methods and techniques utilized in evaluating, analyzing, and interpreting agency data. Leads project teams to gather and analyze statistical data, known disease properties, medical assessments, laboratory findings, and other information to identify trends and methods of epidemic prevention or containment, and writes technical reports of study findings. Monitors epidemic outbreaks and proposes methods of epidemic containment. Monitors and evaluates disease control programs in public health care facilities, day care institutions, nursing homes, and other public facilities and recommends solutions for disease control problems. Responds to inquiries from health care professionals and members of the public regarding environmental or communicable disease hazards. Prepares press releases, responds to media inquiries, and makes public presentations on communicable or environmental disease hazards, epidemic outbreaks, and control programs. Leads project teams to study and investigate chemical compounds exposed to the environment to determine their impact on human health, conducts health surveys, and issues health education advisories which limit the consumption of food and restrict other types of activities.
Knowledge of methods of complex epidemiological design, data collection, data analysis, and presentation of information. Knowledge of advanced descriptive statistical methods. Ability to present information in written and oral form. Ability to exercise judgment and discretion. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Master's degree in Public Health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or a closely related field and relevant working experience. An M.D. or doctoral degree in epidemiology, or advanced training in applied epidemiology, such as the Public Health Prevention Specialist Program at the CDC, may substitute for experience.