Epidemiologist

This position is located within the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) and plays a critical dual role splitting responsibilities equally between epidemiological research and program coordination for the Advisory Committee on the Integration of Primary Care and Behavioral Health.

The position is funded by a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) under the Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care (PIPBHC) program. A primary deliverable of the grant is to establish and operationalize this Advisory Committee as a public body which will promote statewide integration and coordination of primary physical healthcare and behavioral health services with a focus on special populations including LGBTQ individuals individuals experiencing housing instability Latinx communities and other medically underserved populations.

The selected candidate will support the Chief of OPCRH in standing up and finalizing the structure and operations of the Advisory Committee. While initial work has begun the candidate will play a critical role in ensuring its successful establishment and ongoing management.

The Epidemiologist aspect of this role involves conducting statewide health workforce data analysis identifying barriers to integrated care and providing datadriven recommendations to enhance healthcare delivery systems in urban and rural communities.

The Program Coordinator component focuses on strategic planning stakeholder engagement and meeting facilitation to advance the Advisory Committees initiatives. This position ensures smooth coordination between state agencies community partners and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive statewide needs assessment to identify gaps in access to integrated primary and behavioral health care services with a focus on underserved and special populations (e.g. LGBTQ individuals with housing instability Latinx communities).
• Conduct statewide surveillance and analysis of primary care and behavioral health workforce data to assess service capacity and identify geographic shortages.
• Utilize ARC GIS and other spatial analysis tools to map workforce distribution and identify underserved areas supporting datadriven decisionmaking.
• Develop and manage databases to support OPCRH projects including workforce distribution health disparities and healthcare access.
• Identify interpret and report trends in complex datasets providing actionable insights for program evaluation and policy development.
• Prepare comprehensive reports for state plans grant applications and public presentations including visualizations for diverse audiences.
• Provide technical support for federal grant monitoring and performance reporting ensuring compliance with SAMHSA/CMHS grant requirements.
• Coordinate data quality improvements and recommend process enhancements to optimize data collection and reporting.

Program Coordination

• Support the Establishment of the Advisory Committee:
  • Collaborate with the Chief of OPCRH to finalize the structure membership and public engagement framework of the Advisory Committee on the Integration of Primary Care and Behavioral Health.
  • Ensure compliance with public body requirements including transparency public meeting guidelines and stakeholder representation.
• Coordinate and Facilitate Advisory Committee Meetings:
  • Schedule and convene regular meetings of the Advisory Committee on the Integration of Primary Care and Behavioral Health.
  • Prepare detailed agendas meeting minutes and followup reports to ensure alignment with the Advisory Committees objectives.
  • Act as a primary point of contact for Advisory Committee members facilitating clear and consistent communication across all stakeholders.
• Engage and Collaborate with Stakeholders:
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with state agencies healthcare professional and community organizations to promote the integration of primary care and behavioral health services.
  • Coordinate with federal partners and participate in monthly calls and required meetings to represent the Advisory Committees interests.
  • Serve as a liaison between the Advisory Committee and external partners ensuring that stakeholder input is incorporated into Committee initiatives.
• Support Statewide Workforce Efforts:
  • Assists in coordinating the submission of federal HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area) designation requests providing critical analysis to inform workforce planning.
  • Provide technical assistance to organizations and communities seeking to expand access to integrated care services for medically underserved populations.
• Drive Process Improvement:
  • Identify new opportunities for process enhancements within OPCRH programs and the Advisory Committee to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong project management skills with the ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g. Excel SPSS SAS) and data visualization tools (e.g. Power BI).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team with a focus on advancing integrated care across state programs.

Education and Experience

• Master of Public Health a Master of Science in Epidemiology or a Masters degree in a related health field with specialization in the area of Epidemiology
• Experience in using statistical techniques to manage interpret and analyze large datasets for program evaluation and make recommendations thereon.
• Experience with facilitating meetings preparing reports and engaging stakeholders in collaborative initiatives.
• Experience with ARC GIS or similar geographic information systems is preferred.