Job Opportunity: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leadership Position

Director for the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Application Due: June 28, 2013 (before midnight ET)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively recruiting for the executive position of Director for the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The selectee will lead public health actions to promote health and safe environments and prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances.

An MD, PhD or equivalent advanced degree is required. In addition, desirable candidates should possess broad, proven knowledge in the field of environmental health, proven managerial experience in public health administration, and the ability to advance the scientific and public health impact of NCEH/ATSDR.  

The incumbent will be physically located in CDC’s Atlanta Headquarters. For more information on NCEH and ATSDR, please click here.

To be considered, apply before midnight EST on June 28, 2013 at: Link 1 (MD's only) OR Link 2 (MD's, PhD's and equivalent.

Please see below for information on applying for this position. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Vicki Hunter at vhunter@cdc.gov or 404.808.8321.

*Note: the salary indicated in the vacancy announcements is a recommended range. Final compensation determination is commensurate with qualifications and experience and may exceed the maximum salary rate identified.

Meaningful Use: Which PHIN VADS Value Set Should I Use?

As the guidance documents for the syndromic surveillance objective of Meaningful Use continue to change and improve, there is a constantly evolving set of value sets used and referenced. Many users are utilizing older versions of messaging guides and are unsure whether that provides the most up-to-date value set information.

To solve this problem, ISDS has identified a few hints to use when trying to dig through the various levels of the PHIN VADS value sets and vocabulary. PHIN VADS is CDC’s vocabulary access and distribution system that provides information on value sets and vocabulary for a variety of public health purposes, though this post focuses on syndromic surveillance.

First of all, the status of each value set (i.e., if it’s the most current version or not) is clearly depicted on the PHIN VADS website. For reference, consider the pictures inserted below. The first, referencing FacilityVisitType, shows the value set for Version 1, with a note “not current”. The second, also showing FacilityVisitType, shows the value set for Version 2 with a note “current”.

Looking forward, it may make sense to reference the most current available version when developing syndromic surveillance systems so that there is no need to backtrack later on. All of the items included in, for example, Version 2 of the observation identifier value set, are also included in Version 3. The updated versions add additional value sets and values so you will only be expanding, not diminishing, the capacity by using the most current value set. Release 1.9 of the PHIN Messaging Guide, now available at the CDC website, links up to the most updated versions of each of the value sets.

For additional questions, please contact Becky Zwickl at bzwickl@syndromic.org.

Written by ISDS Public Health Analyst, Becky Zwickl, MPH.

Public Health Informatics 2013 Virtual Event - Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to June 2nd!

Invitation to Participate in a Virtual Event

"Strengthening Public Health -- Health Care Collaboration"

July 16-18, 2013

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) invite you to participate in an upcoming Public Health Informatics virtual event "Strengthening Public Health--Health Care Collaboration" that will take place July 16-18, 2013. This virtual event provides a zero cost platform for public health partners to share and collaborate with partners all over the globe. Selected abstracts will be required to produce a video submission for their abstract for broadcasting during the virtual event. 

You may submit abstracts for the following tracks:

• Informatics Policy and Practice: virtual sessions will focus on national and international policy issues and their implications for public health informatics programs; applied informatics projects for programmatic support; and new initiatives.
• Research & Innovation: virtual sessions will focus on informatics research and technological innovation to public health and clinical settings.
• Supporting Public Health Evidence Base through Informatics Practice: virtual sessions will focus on strengthening public health through knowledge sharing, evaluation, and visualization and reporting. 

The Deadline for Abstract Submission is now June 2, 2013. Click here to complete the online Abstract Submission Form.

• Applicants are notified of the status of selection on June 7, 2013
• This event is completely virtual; attendees will participate in the session from the comfort of their own desks.
• If selected, the presentation must be pre-recorded with video and audio capabilities.
• This virtual event is free of charge and open to the public health community.

We look forward to receiving your submission for the virtual meeting taking place on July 16-18, 2013. 

For more information, please visit this website.

CDC Job Opportunity - Director, National Center for Health Statistics

PLEASE SHARE BROADLY WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES!

JOIN CDC’S LEADERSHIP TEAM!

  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively recruiting for the executive position of Director for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). As the nation’s principal health statistics agency, NCHS compiles statistical information and provides data to identify health issues that help guide public health and health policy decisions. The incumbent will report directly to the CDC Deputy Director for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, and will serve as the agency’s senior advisor on all activities related to health statistics. The selectee will provide oversight and leadership in the design, development and operation of statistical and information systems for CDC, play an important leadership role in helping shape the nation’s health statistics system, and collaborate broadly across CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services and US government as a part of the network of Federal statistical agencies.

The incumbent will have broad operating authority for the executive planning, direction and management of NCHS. H/she will (a) lead overall management planning sessions in which program direction, feasibility of program changes, and allocation of funds are considered, (b) evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of program operations in relation to objectives and strategies in relation to legislative, budgetary and program planning, and (c) collaborate with other top agency management officials on the development and implementation of long range plans and assessments of their budget impact. H/she will be responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of quality scientific and technical competence in NCHS and for assuring that actions and programs reflect scientific integrity and operational effectiveness.  H/she will serve as spokesperson for CDC on matters related to NCHS' mission. 

NCHS has an annual operating budget of approximately $212 million and a workforce of more than 600 full-time employees and contractors in two locations – Hyattsville, Maryland and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The incumbent will be physically located in the Hyattsville office and will be expected to travel to CDC’s Atlanta Headquarters as well as other domestic and international locations. For information on NCHS, visit www.cdc.gov/nchs.

To be considered, apply before midnight EST on June 7, 2013 at:

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/342020000?share=email  or

 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/342191800?share=email

Please note: Degree requirements are MD, PhD or equivalent advanced degree in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Vicki Hunter at vhunter@cdc.gov or 404.808.8321.