Employment Type : Full-Time
This is a highly responsible position requiring a physician with a high degree of self direction and extensive experience in the epidemiology, treatment and control of infectious diseases who serves as the principal medical resource for the Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services (LIDS) Division for infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, sexually-transmitted diseases (STD), viral hepatitis, enteric, bloodborne, respiratory, and vaccine-preventable and zoonotic diseases. This position will provide extensive guidance to staff in LIDS, in other Divisions in the Department, and to numerous external experts and stakeholders. This position will advise the Associate Commissioner for LIDS and the Commissioner of DSHS on issues related to infectious disease treatment, prevention and control. The position will represent the agency to local, state and national leaders in infectious disease prevention and control. The position is under the minimal supervision of the LIDS Associate Commissioner with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement. HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
(30%) Serves as the Department's primary expert on the epidemiology, treatment, prevention and control of infectious diseases (e.g., TB, HIV/AIDS, STDs, waterborne, foodborne, bloodborne, respiratory, vaccine-preventable and zoonotic diseases; healthcare associated infections and preventable adverse events). Provides consultation to DSHS staff, public health officials, and healthcare professionals on infectious disease prevention and control. Advises the Commissioner, State Epidemiologist, and Associate Commissioner for Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services Division on issues related to infectious disease. Serves as contact for physician organizations (Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatrics Society, Texas Hospital Association, etc) and individual physicians on matters related to infectious diseases. Provides clinical expertise to the Governor's Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. Represents the Division on committees and task forces of physician organizations as needed. Monitors and maintains up-to-date knowledge on infectious disease medical issues.
(25%) Provides consultation and expert advice on the conduct of investigations of outbreaks caused by enteric, respiratory, bloodborne pathogens, and other infectious diseases. Directs staff on the operation of investigations, including appropriate communication with local and regional health department directors, laboratory directors, and the media; Works closely with the DSHS Press Office and provides on-camera and off-camera interviews on key aspects of prevention messaging; advises on appropriate clinical specimens to collect; collaborates and/or advises other agencies; and direct staff on analysis of outbreak data.
(20%) Provides expert medical, epidemiologic and other public health consultations regarding diagnostic suggestions, treatments, occurrences, risk factors, modes of transmission, communicability, and appropriate control measures for various infectious diseases. Provides leadership in developing diagnosis and treatment algothrithms and clinical treatment guidelines for priority infectious diseases. Provides guidance to the Department’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee in developing educational conferences, websites, and printed materials related to infectious diseases. Reviews and prepares numerous internal documents and external messaging.
(15%) Prepares and conducts oral presentations, briefing documents, reports, articles and manuscripts on infectious disease topics for local, state and national audiences. Direct staff on the development, writing, and implementation of policies and procedures for control of communicable diseases.
(5%) Serves as a subject matter expert and/or member on workgroups and tasks forces as needed. Provides direction and guidance with planning and implementation of quality improvement initiatives and with activities related to changes in healthcare financing and healthcare service delivery systems. Participates in the Department's physician on-call service.
(5%) Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Ability to manage and coordinate complex activities and projects.
Ability to work in a self-directed atmosphere with wide latitude for leadership and initiative.
Ability to work with minimal guidance, exercising sound judgment.
Ability to prioritize and complete assignments.
Ability to supervise and maintain effective working relationships with staff and other agencies.
Ability to communicate and present complex information clearly and concisely through the spoken and written word for a variety of audiences, including medical experts and lay persons.
Ability to interpret physical signs and symptoms and laboratory findings related to infectious diseases.
Skill in summarizing data in written, tabular, and graphic form and skill in writing manuscripts.
Skill in working with local, state and federal agencies and experts.
Skill in interpreting laboratory tests and pathophysiology of infectious disease.
Skill in providing individual patient/case consultations to physicians on medical issues related to infectious diseases.
Skill in presenting medical and scientific information about infectious diseases to diverse audiences.
Skill in explaining and expressing facts and ideas in a convincing manner; negotiating with diverse individuals and groups internally and externally
Knowledge of principles and practices of public health and preventive medicine and of infectious diseases.
Knowledge of public health law
Knowledge of recommendations for childhood and adult immunizations and of public health responsibilities related to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Knowledge of current social and economic problems pertaining to public health; trends in public health profession
Knowledge of public health practices for intervening in the spread of infectious diseases.
Knowledge of CDC operations and organization of inter-state notification of communicable diseases policies and procedures
Knowledge of disease outbreak investigation best practices.
Knowledge of methods for the control of communicable disease
Knowledge of biostatistics
Knowledge of epidemiological study design and analysis and interpretation of data
Knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology
Knowledge of Incident Command Structure and its use in responding to disease outbreaks or disaster situations
Knowledge of word processing (Word), spreadsheet (Excel), and statistical analysis software programs.
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Must be licensed as a Medical Doctor by the State of Texas.
Board Certified in Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Public Health, Preventive Medicine, or board certification of an equivalent nature. Infectious Disease certification preferred.
Initial Selection Criteria:
Additional Information:
Agency salary policy, budget and candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
An in-basket exercise will be required at the time of the interview.
MOS Code: