Public Health Epidemiologist I

• Mar 2022 - Present

Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator, Enteric & Foodborne Diseases

• Jul 2020 - Apr 2022

Designed, implemented, integrated, and administered a complex statewide epidemiology program for enteric foodborne and waterborne pathogens (i.e. Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, etc.).• Directed enteric disease activities (detection, investigation, control, prevention and reporting of outbreaks) of surveillance coordinators for 20 local public health department (LHD) jurisdictions.• Created guidance documents, operating procedures, training webinars, training materials, and response guidelines for routine and outbreak surveillance investigations.• Planned, directed, and executed epidemiologic leadership response with LHDs for 60 local and multistate enteric disease outbreaks on average per year. • Developed data collection tools using REDCap; analyzed data with Microsoft Excel, Epi Info™, OpenEpi.• Managed Nebraska’s Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) reporting and case investigations for 26 reportable enteric diseases in the state, including monitoring electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) implementation, format, data quality, and interoperability between reporting facilities, LHDs, and NDHHS.• Prepared and managed federal grant proposals, progress reports, and approximately $500,000 budget.• Disseminated educational health information and surveillance reports to stakeholders (LHDs, FQHCs, tribal partners); public health liaison to laboratories, healthcare facilities, schools, and childcare programs.• Lead epidemiologist for several CDC funded programs: •OutbreakNet/PulseNet/OutbreakNet Enhanced •NoroSTAT •NREVSS Enhanced• Co-managed CaliciNet, CryptoNet, NARMS, and SEDRIC.

Health Surveillance Specialist, COVID-19 Response

• Jan 2020 - Jul 2020

COVID-19 Response:• Conducted weekly emergency preparedness conference calls as part of an incident command system with local partners to share new information as the COVID-19 situation developed in Nebraska.• Conducted daily epi COVID-19 calls and coordinate key issues and action steps.• Coordinated testing for Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) by determining inclusion criteria and risk assessment.• Monitored international travelers or close contacts of other state cases (through Division of Migration and Quarantine [DGMQ] notifications), provided recommendations to prevent exposure or if symptoms developed.• Worked with internal and external partners (including medical professionals, retail establishments, businesses, and other statewide programs) to develop guidance materials to assist and sustain operations during COVID-19 response.• Assisted multiple LHDs in case investigations and contact tracing, prior to the development of a statewide contact tracing program.• Developed formal training protocol for COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing, including call scripts, case investigation questionnaire, language line/interpretation, and other resource materials.• Assisted the public information officer by responding to public inquiries regarding COVID-19.• Developed a COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance system (operations and guidance document), keeping it consistently updated to recommend current guidance regarding COVID-19.• Assisted LHDs with enteric interviews to aid in support for their COVID-19 efforts.

Health Surveillance Specialist, Enteric & Foodborne Diseases

• Apr 2019 - Jul 2020

• Conducted monthly conference calls with local surveillance partners including Local Health Departments (LHDs), Tribal Partners, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).• Conducted bi-annual investigation review calls with LHDs for quality monitoring and accreditation purposes.• Updated guidance documents and investigation protocols for conditions reportable by rules and regulations and distribute to LHD surveillance staff.• Maintained Nebraska’s Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) resource library (including monitoring apache files on NEDSS servers) for epidemiology staff.• Analyzed enteric investigation data and case surveillance for foodborne databases to meet deliverables for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant.• Assisted with sporadic and outbreak-related interviews for enteric investigations and outbreak response; reported all outbreaks to NORS.

Senior Analyst, Bioanalytical Sciences

• Mar 2015 - Apr 2019

• Performed sample analysis and troubleshooting using ligand-binding techniques.• Assisted in large molecule research & development (R&D) and validation for assay performance in support of production clinical samples.• Utilized Watson LIMS, Labnotes for data extraction and regression.• Experienced with Good Laboratory Practice (cGLP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. • Performed sample analysis and troubleshooting using ligand-binding techniques.• Assisted in large molecule research & development (R&D) and validation for assay performance in support of production clinical samples.• Utilized Watson LIMS, Labnotes for data extraction and regression.• Experienced with Good Laboratory Practice (cGLP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.

Epidemiology Intern

• Sep 2018 - Dec 2018

• Performed data quality checks and case recordings for foodborne databases to meet deliverables for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant.• Updated Salmonella and Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia Coli (STEC) case recordings.• Performed surveillance activities for enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli using NEDSS, datamart, SAS codes and Microsoft Excel.• Assisted the Epidemiology Health Surveillance Specialist to identify outbreaks and clusters in the state. • Performed data quality checks and case recordings for foodborne databases to meet deliverables for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant.• Updated Salmonella and Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia Coli (STEC) case recordings.• Performed surveillance activities for enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli using NEDSS, datamart, SAS codes and Microsoft Excel.• Assisted the Epidemiology Health Surveillance Specialist to identify outbreaks and clusters in the state.

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT, ASCP), Microbiology

• Jul 2011 - Mar 2015

• Detected, characterized, and quantified microbes from patient samples to ensure diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease.• Performed antibiotic susceptibility and minimal inhibition concentrations (AST & MIC) on pathogenic microbe isolates for patient care using Microscan walkaway technology and disk diffusion technology.• Submitted reportable organism isolates to the state public health laboratory for epidemiological surveillance.• Performed quality control measures for reporting of laboratory results.• Clinical Coordinator for students in the MLT program at Southeast Community College.

Adjunct Professor, Parasitology Clinical Laboratory

• Jan 2012 - Aug 2013

Adjunct professor assisting the Medical Laboratorian Technician (MLT) program with parasitology laboratory. Adjunct professor assisting the Medical Laboratorian Technician (MLT) program with parasitology laboratory.

Phlebotomist/Clinical Conduct Technician

• Jan 2008 - Jul 2011