Compiles, maintains, and analyzes health data and reports.  Identifies causative agents or conditions resulting in adverse health conditions.  Proposes and/or initiates corrective action or epidemiological investigations.  Coordinates disease investigations.  Coordinates local, State, and/or Federal programs investigating human morbidity and mortality.  Provides public health information and consultative services.  Medical positions provide professional medical consultation in the performance of these duties.

These positions are distinguished from the Epidemiologist 1 by additional responsibility for proposing and/or initiating epidemiological investigations.

In addition to the typical work for the Epidemiologist 1, this position: 

Proposes and/or initiates epidemiological investigations of communicable disease outbreaks, chronic illness conditions, or other adverse health outcomes; 

Identifies and/or proposes corrective action to environmental conditions resulting in adverse health conditions;   

Participates in the design and management of surveillance systems for diseases of public health importance, including continuous ongoing surveillance as well as specialized short-term surveillance; 

Disseminates scientific and public health information through writing, editing, and submitting reports and articles to internal and scientific publications, and the presentation of seminars, conferences, and lectures, and in a variety of training, educational and scientific settings including State and national meetings; engages in teaching and training of health professionals; prepares public health education materials and gives presentations, advice, and information to constituent groups including broadcast and print media, and the general public; 

Coordinates local, State and/or Federal health research programs investigating human morbidity and mortality; 

May, but not necessarily, be principal investigator (PI) on local, State, or Federal research grants; 

May supervise study interviewers, data entry/management personnel, clerical support, and lower level epidemiologists; 

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: modern epidemiologic principles and practices including the symptoms, causes, means of transmission and methods of control of communicable and chronic diseases; microbiology and pathophysiology; basic medical terminology; modern research procedures including biostatistical methodology; computers and programming in database management and statistical software; community organizations and resources related to the field of public health and epidemiology, advanced biostatistical methods and methods for organization of complex field investigations.   

Ability to:  apply laws and departmental rules and regulations to problems of disease control; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with governmental, voluntary, and private organizations, and groups concerned with public health services; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing on both technical and non-technical levels; prepare grant proposals and budgets, develop and undertake complex investigations with minimal supervision.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Doctoral degree in epidemiology or a Doctoral degree in biostatistics with 12 graduate quarter hours (500 level or above) of epidemiology. 

OR 

A Doctoral degree in a health science field, with a Master's degree in epidemiology or a Master's degree in public health, including 12 graduate quarter hours (500 level or above) in epidemiology and 12 quarter hours in biostatistics.

OR 

A Master's degree in epidemiology, or a Master's degree in public health including 12 graduate quarter hours (500 level or above) in epidemiology and 12 graduate quarter hours in biostatistics, and four years of experience in epidemiology research and analysis. 

OR

A Medical degree with a Master's degree in epidemiology or a Master's degree in public health including 12 graduate quarter hours (500 level or above) in epidemiology and 12 graduate quarter hours in biostatistics.  Completion of related training or experience such as with the Centers for Disease Control or the National Institute of Health will substitute for MPH degree. 

NOTE:  When an MD is selected, a license to practice medicine in the State of Washington must be obtained.