Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) is seeking a dynamic public health professional to serve as a Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) focusing on Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE) Program. This individual will be responsible for conducting disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations, and outbreak response in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines to prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS)- HIV Disease Prevention, is a member of the Division of Communicable Disease Control - HIV/STD Program focuses on conducting disease surveillance, case investigations, contact tracing, and case management (CICT) on Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV per federal, state, and local guidelines to prevent and control communicable and non-communicable disease.

This individual will also coordinate engaging, enhancing, and implementing HIV/STD effective interventions per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other programs outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) funding to support the HIV care continuum and STD control.

Case Investigation and Contact Tracing

• Obtain case information by phone, fax, or in person from healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health databases;
• Conduct sensitive phone or in-person interviews with residents to conduct a clinical assessment, risk assessment, treatment assessment, and identification of contacts or others potentially exposed;
• Counsel residents and contacts on public health interventions including disease education, testing, treatment, vaccinations, and behavioral changes to influence intended public health outcomes;
• Refer residents and contacts to necessary clinical and social services resources to support adherence to public health intervention, disease management, and continued disease prevention and control. This may include short-term case management between the DIS and the resident.

Data Management and Analysis

• Conduct research to gather relevant information on exposure, risk, and potential disease spread using various research and investigative tools;

• Monitor, track, and report social, and behavioral trends to identify areas for program development, prevention implementation, and disease/outbreak prevention;

• Conduct data collection, analysis, management, and input of quantitative and qualitative data into electronic surveillance systems, databases, and tracking systems to monitor and access trends and activities.

Disease Knowledge

• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in HIV/STD Prevention programs including robust knowledge of disease transmission, clinical features, risks, testing, and treatment for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia;
• Continue learning and skill development to be well-informed in designated disease programs;
• Provide technical assistance to clinical laboratories, healthcare facilities, and healthcare providers in designated disease program areas.

Health Education and Outreach

• Develop, implement, evaluate, and enhance the county's HIV/STD surveillance, prevention, testing, and linkage programs;
• Develop and cultivate community partnerships to help promote public health interventions through outreach, education, prevention, and services for at-risk populations or geographic areas of high disease burden;
• Share information through educational activities by developing and reviewing content and material to improve knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, skills, and tools that are innovative and enhance the experience for those affected by the service. Examples of content and material development include program documentation, standard operating procedures, websites, social media, presentations, etc.;
• Attend and participate in meetings, trainings, and conferences as a representative of the office and division.

• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in the HIV disease and prevention programs including robust knowledge of risks, testing, and treatment for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, including being a program area leader by submitting content for web and social media development, updating program documentation, and suggesting innovative ideas for progressive workflow and an enhanced experience of those affected by our service;
• Engage and support the Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention programs in CICT and response to communicable and non-communicable diseases including Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE) and Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) per the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) List of Reportable Diseases

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in public health, social sciences, health education, or related field;
• Two (2) years of relevant experience in public health;
• Must be able to respond to infectious disease emergencies promptly on a 24 hours/7 days per week basis as guided by MCOPH management;

• Must be able to be the divisional representative, on-call after hours and weekends on a rotational basis;

• Requires regular travel throughout Montgomery County and Southeastern, PA, annual state-wide travel, and national travel based on need; must have valid driver's license and reliable means of transportation.

• Verbal, written, and in-person communication to get information and express information in ways that meet the needs of the person and target audience (Inclusive communication)
• Effective verbal communication skills to be able to exchange information clearly, concisely, honestly, respectfully, and demonstrates confidence in the program area and disease knowledge to internal staff, healthcare providers, community partners, and public health partners;
• Must be able to work effectively and efficiently with the public and with public health partners including hospitals, laboratories, health care providers, childcare centers, schools, colleges and universities, law enforcement, township officials, etc.;
• Competency in customer service skills including but not limited to people-first, problem-solving, professionalism, and adaptability;
• Self-initiative, future-focused, and change-oriented;
• Organizational skills to meet timelines, manage multiple disease responses, and conflicting priorities to meet divisional and department goals and protect the health of our community;
• Capacity to adjust to short-term change, quickly and calmly.