The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention (ACDP) section located in Portland, Oregon, is seeking a qualified professional for the role of Medical Director for Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention and Immunizations. This position will offer leadership and direction in the prevention and control of communicable diseases and related outbreaks throughout Oregon.
What will you do?
As the Medical Director for Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention and Immunizations, your responsibilities will include overall clinical guidance for surveillance, investigation, response, and prevention of acute and communicable disease threats throughout the state of Oregon. You will identify necessary studies for prevention efforts, oversee outbreak investigations, and direct Oregon’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP). You will utilize the collected information, along with information gleaned from the medical literature and national experts, to formulate policies, design essential programs, and advocate for these initiatives through legislative channels, grant proposals, and other relevant avenues. You will review and approve investigative guidelines, public health recommendations, public data summaries, abstracts, manuscripts, press releases, and other documents for effective public health surveillance, prevention, and response of acute and communicable diseases. Key responsibilities will also involve providing clinical guidance to section management, collaborating with epidemiologists and technical staff to foster a team-oriented approach, working with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) leadership to ensure compliance with communicable disease control mandates, and representing ACDP to physicians and other healthcare providers, local and federal public health officials, the news media, and policymakers.
What we are looking for:
Minimum Qualifications:
Must meet or be eligible to meet the State of Oregon licensing requirements for a medical doctor (MD) at the time of hire and obtain State of Oregon licensure within six-months of hire. Must maintain an active Oregon Medical License for the duration of employment.
Special Requirements:
- Eligibility for Oregon medical license is required; license must be completed within 6 months of hire.
- Infectious disease or public health board certification preferred.
Desired Attributes:
- Clinical leadership experience with communicable diseases, ideally in public health settings and including experience with the presentation, diagnosis, management, and control of communicable diseases.
- Experience as principal investigator for large federal grants, employing knowledge of communicable disease research and epidemiology and overseeing sensitive data systems, including rigorous adherence to the highest standards of confidentiality with patient information.
- Demonstrated experience building and stewarding trusted relationships with diverse community groups, including communities of color, immigrant groups, Tribal governments, the disability community, and other traditionally marginalized communities.
- Experience developing and implementing strategic public health data-collection systems, epidemiologic analyses, evidence-based programs, and policies through collaboration with clinicians, local, state, and federal officials, and national partners.
- Experience with urgent response, including serving in clinical leadership roles for incident command structures.
- Experience serving as a public spokesperson, including frequent media engagement, including delivering culturally responsive and inclusive messaging.
- Experience with government statutes and rules, including their adherance and modification to meet public health needs along with analyses of relevant bills during legislative session.
Working Conditions:
The work of this position may be conducted remotely with full access to needed operating systems and technology but at times will have work that needs to be conducted on-site at the Portland State Office Building, located at 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232. Work location can be changed at any time at the discretion of the hiring manager.
This position requires some in-state travel and out-of-state travel with overnight stays to attend meetings, provide presentations, make field visits, participate in work group activities, or to provide assistance during a public health emergency.
What's in it for you?
The Public Health Division is a team of passionate individuals working to promote health across the lifespan of individuals, families, and communities. We value and support unique perspectives using a trauma-informed approach and aim to reflect these values in our hiring practices, professional development, and workplace. We are committed to racial equity as a driving factor to improve health outcomes for all communities that experience inequities.
- We offer exceptional medical, vision and dental benefit packages for you and your qualified family members, with very low monthly out-of-pocket costs. Try this free virtual benefits counselor by clicking here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/pebb/pages/alex.aspx
- Paid Leave Days:
- 11 paid holidays each year.
- 3 additional paid personal business days each year.
- 8 hours of paid sick leave accrued each month.
- Progressive vacation leave accrual with increases every 5 years.
- Pension and Retirement
- Student Loan Forgiveness; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) The PSLF program may forgive student loan balances after you’ve made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments.
- Optional benefits include short-term disability, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses.
- Click here to learn more about State of Oregon benefits.
The Oregon Health Authority is committed to:
- Eliminating health inequities in Oregon by 2030.
- Becoming an anti-racist organization.
- Developing and promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate programs.
- Developing and retaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce that represents the diversity, cultures, strengths, and values of the people of Oregon.
Directions to Apply:
- Complete the online application and questionnaire.
- Upload a current resume that demonstrates how your personal (lived), educational, and professional experience qualify you for this position. *(Required)
- Upload a cover letter that addresses the points listed under the section titled “What we are looking for”. *(Required)
Please ensure you have provided thorough and updated application materials as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment. For further information, please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage.
Have Questions or Need Help?
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Aimee Buchholz at aimee.d.buchholz2@oha.oregon.gov. TTY users may dial 711 or 1-800-735-2900. For Workday technical support, please call toll-free 1-855-524-5627.