The position is responsible for data management and data sets that are used for program evaluation, quality assurance and public health research by the Division of Public Health (DPH), medical providers, local health departments, community partners, and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH). The incumbent conducts analyses and interprets HCV, HIV and related data that are used for program planning and development within the Viral Hepatitis and AIDS/HIV Programs.

The essential tasks performed by the Hepatitis C Epidemiologist include: • Using the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) to coordinate the state’s HCV surveillance activities. • Using data analysis systems and software [e.g. SAS, Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS), Analysis, Visualization and Reporting (AVR), WEDSS] to correlate, integrate, analyze and interpret various types of data related to viral hepatitis and HIV. • Using sensitive health databases (hospital discharge, mortality, electronic laboratory reports, population estimates) in various data management environments (SAS, ArcGIS, eHars, WEDSS, SQL Server) to provide an integrated data analysis of the economic and health burden of HCV in Wisconsin. • Working with DPH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), community and academic partners on cluster investigations, special epidemiologic studies and research initiatives. • Preparing presentations, reports and scientific manuscripts.

The effect of this position is to ensure the availability of a comprehensive statewide communicable disease surveillance system for viral hepatitis that enables DPH and local public health agencies to provide disease intervention, case follow-up, and to measure the burden of viral hepatitis in Wisconsin.