Field Epidemiology Training Program Resident Advisor
The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) with technical assistance from CDC will initiate the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) course to improve the surveillance, epidemiologic investigation, response and scientific communications skills of public health workers at each level of the health system, based on a 3 tier program design, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. FETPs produce actionable information so that public health workers can use science and data to detect and monitor disease outbreaks and determine public health policy and programming. The Advanced tier training program will be equivalent to a Masters level degree and will be delivered in collaboration with the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine. The program’s goal is the production of an adequate number of highly qualified Malawian epidemiologies with applied field epidemiology practical skills
The primary purpose of the Resident Advisor 9RA) is to ensure successful implementation and development of the FETP within the Ministry of Health through the public Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will administratively report to the Country Director of I-TECH Malawi and on technical matters will report to the Head of Public Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will serve as a member of the FETP team to strengthen the technical mentoring of the field epidemiology component of the FETP. The RA will be responsible for coordinating the course and mentoring the students with the help of other mentors who will be identified within country. The RA will prepare and submit to PHIM and CDC, the Ministry of Health and other local stakeholders in country as necessary for decision making, information sharing and communication
The RA must be available and willing to travel within Malawi up to 10% with occasional international travel. This position is overtime exempt.
The primary purpose of the Resident Advisor 9RA) is to ensure successful implementation and development of the FETP within the Ministry of Health through the public Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will administratively report to the Country Director of I-TECH Malawi and on technical matters will report to the Head of Public Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will serve as a member of the FETP team to strengthen the technical mentoring of the field epidemiology component of the FETP. The RA will be responsible for coordinating the course and mentoring the students with the help of other mentors who will be identified within country. The RA will prepare and submit to PHIM and CDC, the Ministry of Health and other local stakeholders in country as necessary for decision making, information sharing and communication
The RA must be available and willing to travel within Malawi up to 10% with occasional international travel. This position is overtime exempt.
Strategic and Technical Leadership (40%)
Support PHIM I the organisation of a Technical Committee to guide FETP implementation, Advise PHIM and MOH in the identification and acquisition of training opportunities for trainee projects, and sources of funding that help secure annual budgets for the adequate development of an institutionalised FETP, Facilitate the coordination of stakeholder and dissemination meetings on FETP in the country, Assist Ministry of Health to develop adequate and timely field investigations in response to acute public health problems such as epidemic outbreaks, clusters of diseases cases, and case investigations, Participate in disease surveillance and outbreak investigation and response activities of the MOH together with the trained public health officers, Provide technical support and assistance to public health activities, which are coordinated by Global Health Security (GHS) and FETP-Branch in coordination with other CDC Teams and the PHIM and MOH, Serve as liaison
between PHIM, CDC the MOH and agency partners to coordinate GHS activities in the country
Training and Instructional Design (45%)
Work with technical staff at PHIM, CDC , the MOH and other partners in country to develop and implement a training plan for a field epidemiology for public health professional at the basic and intermediate levels,
Provide guidance in the review and adaptation of the existing basic and intermediate field epidemiology curricula as may be required in consultation with PHIM, CDC, the MOH, WHO and other partners in country, Participate in the process of identifying participants for the basic and intermediate field epidemiology training, Assist with the selection and training of FETP graduates of First Tier Basic and Intermediate level as national mentors for FETP fellows, in collaboration with PHIM, MOH, CDC and other identified partners, ensure availability of all the required logistics for the didactic and field training of selected participants, Conduct the planned basic and intermediate field epidemiology training which will include both theory and practical components, Provide guidance to the national mentors and FETP fellows at intermediate level in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects to fulfil the requirements of the
training, Coordinate with PHIM, MOH and other training institutions to integrate content of basic and intermediate field epidemiology training into in-service curriculum for appropriate MOH staff, Maintaining the scientific excellence of the program through coaching, providing scientific and technical guidance to students and evaluation of the trainees
Provide mentorship and supervision for the candidates during the period of practical field attachments, Provide supportive training for MOH supervisors and mentors for basic FETP trainees, Assist national mentors and FETP fellows of intermediate level in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects, Provide technical guidance to trainees in preparing their presentations for national dissemination of their findings and recommendations of course projects from field practical attachments
Graduate from a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) or have at least 2 yrs experience in Field Epidemiology training Program, or similar field epidemiology an droning international public health training or Masters degree in academic fields related to Health or Allied Sciences, preferably in Human and Veterinary Medicine, or Zoonotic Biology Doctoral level degree desired, At least 3 yrs of experience working in the field a practicing Epidemiologist in disease surveillance and outbreak response
Sound knowledge of WHO standards and policies such as the integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR) and International Health Regulations, Extensive knowledge and experience in use of statistical packages such as Epi INFO, STATA, SPSS, Extensive knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national, sub national, local and community levels of the health systems in Africa, Experience in preparing and facilitating training for in-service public health workforce development initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa, Extensive experience in mentoring and coaching public health workforce, Proven experience in coordinating multi-agency public health programs at regional, national, sub national, local levels, Experience with audit education strategies would be useful, These include
Problem based education techniques
Instructional design
Teaching epidemiology and basic public health statistics
Public health management and program design an
Communication and advocacy in public health
Support PHIM I the organisation of a Technical Committee to guide FETP implementation, Advise PHIM and MOH in the identification and acquisition of training opportunities for trainee projects, and sources of funding that help secure annual budgets for the adequate development of an institutionalised FETP, Facilitate the coordination of stakeholder and dissemination meetings on FETP in the country, Assist Ministry of Health to develop adequate and timely field investigations in response to acute public health problems such as epidemic outbreaks, clusters of diseases cases, and case investigations, Participate in disease surveillance and outbreak investigation and response activities of the MOH together with the trained public health officers, Provide technical support and assistance to public health activities, which are coordinated by Global Health Security (GHS) and FETP-Branch in coordination with other CDC Teams and the PHIM and MOH, Serve as liaison
between PHIM, CDC the MOH and agency partners to coordinate GHS activities in the country
Training and Instructional Design (45%)
Work with technical staff at PHIM, CDC , the MOH and other partners in country to develop and implement a training plan for a field epidemiology for public health professional at the basic and intermediate levels,
Provide guidance in the review and adaptation of the existing basic and intermediate field epidemiology curricula as may be required in consultation with PHIM, CDC, the MOH, WHO and other partners in country, Participate in the process of identifying participants for the basic and intermediate field epidemiology training, Assist with the selection and training of FETP graduates of First Tier Basic and Intermediate level as national mentors for FETP fellows, in collaboration with PHIM, MOH, CDC and other identified partners, ensure availability of all the required logistics for the didactic and field training of selected participants, Conduct the planned basic and intermediate field epidemiology training which will include both theory and practical components, Provide guidance to the national mentors and FETP fellows at intermediate level in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects to fulfil the requirements of the
training, Coordinate with PHIM, MOH and other training institutions to integrate content of basic and intermediate field epidemiology training into in-service curriculum for appropriate MOH staff, Maintaining the scientific excellence of the program through coaching, providing scientific and technical guidance to students and evaluation of the trainees
Provide mentorship and supervision for the candidates during the period of practical field attachments, Provide supportive training for MOH supervisors and mentors for basic FETP trainees, Assist national mentors and FETP fellows of intermediate level in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research projects, Provide technical guidance to trainees in preparing their presentations for national dissemination of their findings and recommendations of course projects from field practical attachments
Graduate from a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) or have at least 2 yrs experience in Field Epidemiology training Program, or similar field epidemiology an droning international public health training or Masters degree in academic fields related to Health or Allied Sciences, preferably in Human and Veterinary Medicine, or Zoonotic Biology Doctoral level degree desired, At least 3 yrs of experience working in the field a practicing Epidemiologist in disease surveillance and outbreak response
Sound knowledge of WHO standards and policies such as the integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR) and International Health Regulations, Extensive knowledge and experience in use of statistical packages such as Epi INFO, STATA, SPSS, Extensive knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national, sub national, local and community levels of the health systems in Africa, Experience in preparing and facilitating training for in-service public health workforce development initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa, Extensive experience in mentoring and coaching public health workforce, Proven experience in coordinating multi-agency public health programs at regional, national, sub national, local levels, Experience with audit education strategies would be useful, These include
Problem based education techniques
Instructional design
Teaching epidemiology and basic public health statistics
Public health management and program design an
Communication and advocacy in public health
Application letter and CV with 3 traceable refs and copy of relevant certificates should be sent to The Human Resources Manager, International Training an Education Center for Health (I-TECH-Malawi), ARWA House, City Centre, P O Box 30369, Lilongwe 3 email: hr@itech-malawi.org Deadline for applications is 5 pm Monday 13th July Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledge website for more information http://www.g2itech.org/
