Description
Profile Methodical, seasoned, and results-driven health professional with extensive experience and knowledge of epidemiology and behavioral science. Equipped with proven expertise in implementing control strategies, developing systematic evidence based processes, experienced in conducting epidemiologic investigation, and evaluating and analyzing data from research findings. Adept at survey evaluation methods, resource allocation and prioritization, and disease control. Highly capable of working within stressful and critical environments without compromising the quality of work and performance. Articulate communicator, multilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese with basic knowledge of French. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of Epidemiological Methodology, Theories, Principles and Methods * Coordinated, promoted and supported the efforts from Governments and international public health agencies to establish and implement best evidence public health policies, strategies and processes to improve the quality of local practices to ensure progress in immunization programs' performance. * Supported several demonstration projects including the adoption of innovative initiatives in Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, South Africa, Jordan, Nepal and India, promoting the adoption of best policies and practices to improve program management, vaccine delivery, micro-planning, cost analysis to ensure sustainable funding for vaccine introduction and the use of logic models and feasible timelines for project design and implementation, achievement of programs' set goals. * Supported the systematic use of data to timely detect areas at risk for vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs), achieve outbreak control. Coordinated timely implementation and monitoring of vaccination campaigns to prevent or to timely respond to VPDs outbreaks. Received an On-the Spot-Award from CDC for leveraging resources to support all Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance in Costa Rica, building capacity for influenza surveillance in the form of equipment for sentinel surveillance and agreements for testing of samples in CDC Guatemala. * Gathered and shared best program evidence with communication experts to effectively design and tailor messages to targeted populations to support marketing campaigns and social mobilization, increase public awareness, education, participation and demand for health services among different audiences. * Participated in the different phases, such as analysis and formulation, publication, and dissemination of national and local public health plans, and contributed to the development of program manuals and trainings to educate health staff about program policies, regulations and best practices. Supported the development of protocols and manuals to strengthen surveillance, disease monitoring, health information systems' design and improvements in data quality to measure progress and identify areas in need of further development. * Applied both quantitative and qualitative methods and used the knowledge gained in epidemiologic, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation studies to improve national, regional and local health programs and advance and achieve countries and WHO and UNICEF regional goals, improving vaccine coverage towards achieving control of vaccine preventable diseases such as Hemophilus influenza type b, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, human papilloma virus, rabies and tetanus contributed to global efforts towards measles, rubella and polio elimination in the Americas, Nepal, India, Jordan and South Africa, among other countries. Knowledge of Public Health Program Management * As technical advisor for the CDC Global Pandemic Influenza (Flu) Program in the Dominican Republic worked in close collaboration with staff and authorities designated as focal points at Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Interior, International Relations, as well as representatives from Civil Society. In that capacity worked to strengthen government's leadership and coordination capacity and technical expertise. While working across governmental and non-governmental institutions during a four months in 2008, contributed to the development of the first version of the Dominican Republic's preparedness plan for pandemic flu adapted CDC's training materials to the country's context and conducted trainings that resulted in increased technical and leadership capacity of high level technical staff, authorities and decision makers. Supported several table top and simulations exercises to measure strengths and weaknesses of the preparedness plan. Lessons learned during these pandemic simulation provided evidence on the readiness to implement human and animal flu surveillance systems for early disease detection and control, practice roles and responsibilities necessary to enhance coordination, decision making and collaboration between all different actors from diverse institutions and settings (inter-ministerial, civilian organizations and other national and international agencies). After these exercises, provided feedback and advised authorities and policy makers on ways to improve ethical, medical, biosafety, economic, and security aspects while maintaining coordination with others in government, civil society and stakeholders involved in the preparedness plan and response. * Supported countries to achieve program sustainability by drafting, reviewing and overseeing cooperative agreements and grant proposals. As a result of these collaboration, countries were able to secure funding and implement projects and effectively utilize and resources, resulting in strengthening national public health capacity, local evidence to support decision making, documentation of lessons learned to accelerate the achievement of programmatic goals. * Provided programmatic and policy and practices recommendations leading to successful negotiation and agreements between Ministries of Health authorities and national and international stakeholders resulting in an increased national and regional surveillance and laboratory diagnostic capacity. Ability to Provide Direction and Guidance * Advised Ministry of Health Authorities on the best courses of actions to improve equity, identifying and giving priority to vulnerable populations without proper access to health services due to issues related to health care providers limitations in their capacity to address culturally competent care or demand issues such populations' hesitancy and lack of confidence on the safety of vaccines. In that regard, fostered an intervention among health workers and indigenous communities to address barriers to access and utilization, successfully increasing vaccine coverage rates and achieving timely disease detection, control and elimination in Ecuador. * Provided expert advice to high level parliamentarians, health committees and other policy decision makers, supporting evidence-based and evidence informed policy making process. While providing support with the review of available evidence such as World Health Organization position papers, burden of disease and cost analysis, leading to sustainable program policy recommendations successfully engaged with national high level advisors, scientist, and public health expert such as members of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups in Immunization (NITAGs), Ministries of Health and parliamentarians. These efforts resulted in the introduction of vaccines in the official schedule in several countries: Argentina (Hepatitis A), Dominican Republic (Influenza), Costa Rica (rotavirus, IPV), Ecuador (PCV, HPV). Skill in Written Communication * Produced, shared and disseminated reports, guidelines and policy briefs and recommendations addressed to high level technical staff and decision makers leading to the improvement of key public health interventions and indicators (disease surveillance, vaccination coverage, vaccine introduction, assessments and evaluations). * Conducted assessments of countries' surveillance and vaccine coverage systems designed and implemented quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with key informants and focus group discussions with caregivers and immunization staff, to investigate the status of immunization policy in countries from the WHO African region, documenting the policy making decision process from recommendation to implementation and the impact of those decision on public health interventions. Skill in Oral Communication * Coordinated and contributed to the assessment of health risks and successfully communicated with Ministry of Health (MoH) authorities, countries' International Health Regulation (IHR) and PAHO HQ focal points contributing to the timely issuing of epidemiological alerts, situation analysis presentations effectively communicating on the level of risk and while assessing countries readiness to launch emergency response operations to control epidemic prone diseases like measles and yellow fever. Participated in Emergency Operation Centers, timely sharing daily outbreak situation updates with technical experts from countries directly affected, authorities from neighboring countries and regional advisors. Ability to Work with Multi-Disciplinary Officials and Groups * Cultivated bilateral and trilateral-countries collaboration to disseminate information on public health risks, promote joint responses during outbreaks, and arrange joint emergency exercises in partnership with international partners and neighboring countries * Worked collaboratively with Ministries of Health (MOH) for resource mobilization during public health emergencies and crisis and advised on most effective allocation of funds and technical support for public health program resulting in timely response to public health emergencies, to achieve control and avoid further spread of disease among populations at risk.
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