Resident Advisor, Kazakhstan Field Epidemiology Training Program

CAMRIS International is an international development and research firm that realizes innovative solutions to health and development challenges through high-quality, cost-effective program and research management services. With experience working in more than 80 countries, we combine our proven systems with today's most effective, evidence-based best practices to improve the lives of people around the world. We apply a customized, customer-centric, cost-effective business approach to offer greater value to our clients and challenge the way things have always been done in our field.

CAMRIS clients include U.S. government agencies and multilateral and private organizations. Our core practice areas include public health, agriculture and food security, economic development, education, environment, humanitarian assistance, democracy and governance, and medical research.

CAMRIS seeks a Resident Advisor, Kazakhstan Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) for an upcoming task order under the International Technical, Operation, and Professional Support Services (ITOPSS) IDIQ. The RA will 1) Assist the MOH with recruiting and selection of FETP-Advanced residents; 2) Serve as the primary teacher and trainer of FETP-Advanced residents, including mentoring and providing guidance to residents and the MOH during outbreak investigations; 3) Periodically accompany residents on field investigations: Conduct monitoring and evaluation of FETP activities through field visits to ensure that residents are achieving their competencies while providing service in their field placements; 4) Design and coordinate classroom training; to include working with an academic institution, if the program has an academic partner; 5) Ensure that field placement supervisors are given appropriate field epidemiology training and will provide ongoing monitoring and support to residents in the program; 6) Working with the MOH and other identified partners provide oversight for and assistance with planning for logistics, funding, training, and mentorship with FETP-Advanced, FETP-Intermediate and FETP-Frontline; 7) Prepare and manage the FETP budget and provide periodic reports to CDC, funding partners, and others as required; and 8) Serve as liaison between CDC, MOH, and other partners: providing leadership, direction, and technical expertise to universities, medical institutions, non-governmental organizations, the host country ministry of health, and other participating agencies.

The objectives of the project are 1) to train and mentor Ministry of Health (MOH) personnel to improve disease surveillance, detection, and response to outbreaks by providing classroom training in applied epidemiology and leading applied activities and field investigations; 2) build self-sustaining institutionalized field epidemiology capacity in each country; 3) work with other USG and non-USG partners in country to strengthen disease surveillance, response efforts, biosecurity/biosafety, workforce capacity; and assist the country in reaching Global Health Security and International Health Regulation goals; 4) ensure continued support of Ministries of Health and engage local counterparts to strengthen field epidemiology.

The objective of the FETP Resident Advisor is to develop a cadre of Ministry of Health (MOH) field epidemiologists so that they are available for strengthening surveillance and outbreak response throughout the country. The FETP RA service will train and mentor MOH staff to improve disease surveillance, detection, and response to outbreaks by providing classroom training in applied epidemiology and leading applied activities and field investigations to prevent, respond and contain disease threats, and to accomplish the project goals and objectives.

Note: The position is contingent on contract award.

• Serve as technical advisor for the development and implementation of an overall integrated field epidemiology training program to build evidence-based public health systems in coordination with other partners and MOH officials.
• Work with technical staff at CDC, the Ministry of Health and other partners in country to develop and implement a training plan for field epidemiology for public health professional at the basic, intermediate and advanced levels as appropriate.
• Travel to the field (local sites within country) to conduct trainings and assist with participants' investigations and field work.
• Travel to CDC Atlanta to attend the FETP annual strategic planning and the Epidemic Intelligence Service conference.
• Travel to CDC Atlanta or other location, as appropriate, to attend required trainings, meetings, conferences, etc., (such as regional or global scientific conferences)
• Liaise with Ministry of Health to identify participants for the field epidemiology trainings.
• Work with MOH to convene a Steering Committee to oversee program implementation and management.
• Coordinate with CDC and identified partners to ensure logistical support for the didactic and field trainings of selected participants is in place.
• Conduct the planned field epidemiology trainings together with Ministry of Health, CDC, and identified partners.
• Mentor participants of the FETP programs.
• Orientate MOH supervisors and mentors of the FETP programs participants about the expectations for their roles in relation to the FETP.
• Guide participants in preparing their presentations for dissemination of their findings and recommendations.
• Assist trainees to develop adequate and timely field investigations in response to acute public health problems such as epidemic outbreaks, clusters of disease cases, and case investigations.
• Advise MOH in the identification and acquisition of opportunities for participant projects, and sources of funding that help secure annual budgets for the adequate development of an institutionalized FETP.
• Assist mentors and participants in the FETP-Intermediate program with the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects.
• Assist with the selection and training of graduates as mentors for future participants.
• Coordinate the organization and facilitation of stakeholder and dissemination meetings in country.
• Participate in disease surveillance and outbreak investigation and response activities of the Ministry of Health together with graduates and participants.
• Work with MOH and other training institutions to integrate basic and intermediate field epidemiology curriculum into an in-service program for MOH staff.
• Provide technical assistance to the MOH.
• Liaison between CDC, the MOH, and partners to coordinate GHS activities in the country.
• Participate in periodic Steering Committee meetings to guide program implementation and activities

• Participate in periodic (monthly or as otherwise agreed upon) calls with country support staff in headquarters (CDC-Atlanta).

• Masters or Doctoral-level professional degree in academic fields related to health or allied sciences in human or veterinary medicine, or zoonotic biology.

• Graduate from a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) OR at least two years' experience in a Field Epidemiology Training Program or a similar field epidemiology service provision position.

• At least five years of experience working in the field as a practicing epidemiologist and preparing and facilitating trainings for in-service public health workforce development initiatives, like the Field Epidemiology Training Program.

• Knowledge of WHO standards and policies such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR) and International Health Regulations.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national, sub national, local and community levels of the health systems in country.

• Experience in coordinating multi-agency public health programs at regional, national, sub national, local levels.

• Experience with teaching education strategies.

• Fluency in Russian language is required.

• One to two years of experience working in the field as a practicing epidemiologist.

• At least three years preparing and facilitating trainings for in-service public health workforce development initiatives, like the Field Epidemiology Training Program.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=ZXNvbG9tYW4uNzIxNjIuMzgzMEBjYW1yaXMuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t