Epidemiologist

The Role

Provides epidemiological and statistical support to Regional Council, the Medical Officer of Health/Commissioner, departmental staff, and external agencies. Collects, analyses, and interprets data to meet legislative requirements, regulations, and standards, including Provincial Public Health Standards. Supports departmental planning by providing epidemiologic and socio-demographic information.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervises Health Data Analysts and students. 
• Provides technical guidance, assistance, and advice to departmental staff and management on epidemiological and research methodologies, population health indicators, data collection and design tools, interpretation of epidemiological data, statistical analyses, and databases and systems. 
• Provides methodological and epidemiological support to the Community Services Committee, the Medical Officer of Health/Commissioner, and departmental senior management. Supports overall departmental planning and evidence-informed decision-making by providing epidemiologic and socio-demographic data, and applying standardized procedures.
• Analyzes and interprets mortality, natality, morbidity, risk-related, and paramedic statistics using epidemiologic techniques and related databases and systems. 
• Leads studies on the health status and quality of life of residents. Reviews and critiques proposed research ideas/projects and manuscripts for publication. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data. Prepares reports.
• Coordinates population health assessment and surveillance activities for the Department. 
• Maintains data sharing and user agreements for databases used by the Department (with the exception of those maintained by the Managers of Information & Planning for their respective Divisions). Maintains and updates health indicators. Ensures databases are linked. Develops methods to illustrate data, including mapping and graphics. Develops in-house epidemiologic databases; compiles socio-demographic characteristics and health outcomes to describe the Waterloo Region (e.g., census, mortality, morbidity, reproductive outcomes).
• Designs and conducts epidemiological studies, including investigations of communicable disease outbreaks/health hazards, non-communicable disease clusters, and occurrences associated with environmental exposure. 
• Coordinates the application of corporate Geographic Information System (GIS) to departmental research, analysis, and program planning; advises on standards, specifications, and related issues.
• Participates on departmental/divisional, corporate, and external committees and projects.
• Prepares reports to the Community Services Committee, for management review. Prepares and delivers presentations regarding the health status of residents to staff, the public, and external agencies. 
• Responds to requests for health assessment and surveillance data from staff and agencies. 
• Has a purchasing card. Provides input on statistical and data visualization software purchases. 
• Exchanges demographic and health-related information with staff in other departments. 
• Conducts research, accesses data, and exchanges information with Ministries, Public Health Ontario, Statistics Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, peers in public health units, professional associations, universities, the media, hospitals, and community agencies. 
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of epidemiological methodology; bio-statistics; research and design; public health and paramedic services programming; and the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health, normally acquired through a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology or equivalent with a focus on epidemiology, plus significant experience conducting epidemiological analysis and interpretation in a public health setting. 
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, regulations, standards, and related legislation (e.g., privacy, health protection and promotion, health and safety, Public Health Standards).
• Analytical, organizational, and continuous improvement skills to determine research methods and procedures; collect and compile health-related data; analyze and interpret data, including descriptive and analytic epidemiology; identify causes and trends; analyze processes and procedures and make recommendations to support quality reporting/data; and organize and coordinate the work of supervised staff.
• Leadership, human relations, and communication skills to supervise, train, develop, motivate and support staff; establish and maintain working relationships with all levels of staff, other government agencies, and community partners to exchange data, obtain support and funding, and carry out research; provide training, guidance, and advice to departmental staff in epidemiological methods and statistics; make presentations to agencies and the media; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read and interpret professional journals, books, documents, manuals, health-related acts and regulations, and articles. Ability to write/prepare research and technical reports, manuals, procedures, statistical analyses, proposals, manuscripts, key messages, and correspondence. Ability to keep knowledge current.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, statistical and epidemiological systems, GIS, external health information systems, and database management tools. 
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.