CDC in collaboration with CSTE, ASTHO, NACCHO and PHII CLASS II

CDC in collaboration with CSTE, ASTHO, NACCHO and PHII CLASS II

Public Health Informatics Public health informatics aims to develop information management in order to improve internal and external decision-making. Also, it can be described as working to get the right information to the right person at the right time. Informaticians can help public health agencies to produce actionable information for public health interventions. Public health infomaticians are often the link between public health programs and those who develop and maintain information systems. The Informatics-Training in Place Program (I-TIPP) is designed to train the existing workforce in applied public health informatics. I-TIPP is one of three Project SHINE (Strengthening Health Systems through Interprofessional Education) fellowship programs. Project SHINE is supported by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII). INFORMATICS TRAINING IN PLACE PROGRAM The fellowship is designed for current entry to midlevel health department employees who are interested in gaining more experience and training in public health informatics. While the program provides competencybased training through interprofessional education, it is also designed with the flexibility to meet the particular interests of the fellow. Fellows are selected based on their interest in informatics training and ability to work on projects involving meaningful use or surveillance system improvement. PROGRAM MISSION The mission of I-TIPP is to address informatics capacity needs of health departments through competencybased training and development of a multi-disciplinary, collaborative learning environment.

TRAINING I-TIPP offers an opportunity to acquire and develop public health informatics skills while remaining employed with their health department. Fellows work closely with highly trained and experienced informaticians, epidemiologists, and public health practitioners. Fellows are expected to participate in four hours of training each month. INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Interprofessional Education (IPE) is an experience that occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other. 1 The goal of IPE is to prepare health professionals to deliberately work together with the common goal of improving population health and patient-centered care within the U.S. health care system. The three aims of IPE are: 1. to achieve better patient care; 2. to achieve better health (outcomes); and 3. to achieve more efficient and affordable educational and health care systems. 2 Public health and health care data are critical to achieving these three aims and informaticians are uniquely positioned to improve population health by using IPE skills to foster collaboration between public health and primary care partners in the community. 1 World Health Organization. (2010). Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2010/who_hrh_hpn_10.3_eng.pdf. 2 Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2013). Interprofessional education for collaboration: Learning how to improve health from interprofessional models across the continuum of education to practice: Workshop summary.

INFORMATICS-TRAINING IN PLACE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to be an I-TIPP fellow, applicants must meet the following application criteria: 1. Must have been employed by their current employer (state, local, tribal, territorial health department) for at least one year at the time of application 2. Entry to mid-level experienced employee with a desire to pursue a long-term career at the state or local level 3. Must have some experience in public health informatics 4. Proof of U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident 5. Minimum of a bachelor s degree or higher in informatics, computer science, public health, or other related discipline 6. Currently or will soon be working on informatics projects involving meaningful use or surveillance system improvement 7. One year commitment to participate in the fellowship Note: This program is not appropriate for senior agency leadership, those with formal academic training in informatics (masters or doctoral levels), or academic staff. Contract employees or Federal assignees are not eligible to participate in I-TIPP.

Erin Austin, MPH Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, PA Highest Degree Obtained: MPH, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Certifications: Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response Host Site: Virginia Department of Health Primary Supervisor: Tim Powell, MPH Secondary Supervisor: Laurie Forlano, DO MPH Future plans after the fellowship: After completing the fellowship, I plan to be an informatics advocate in the public health sector by promoting the effective use of data and health information systems to improve population health and outcomes and to provide evidencebased information to decision-makers. My long term goals include earning certification as a Project Management Professional with the desire to ensure there is appropriate public health involvement in health information technology efforts at the state and national level. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: I chose the I-TIPP program in order to gain practical experience and training in informatics while still being able to carry out my day job as an epidemiologist. I saw this fellowship as an opportunity to support informatics-related initiatives at my state health department where I could bridge the gap between public health program staff and technical staff. I hope to use the knowledge gained from this experience to the advance science and art of public health informatics. Nicole Brys, MPH Place of Birth: Madison, WI Highest Degree Obtained: MPH, Community Health Education, University of Minnesota Host Site: Minnesota Department of Health Primary Supervisor: Tony Steyermark, MS, PhD Secondary Supervisor: Martin LaVenture, PhD, MPH, FACMI Future plans after the fellowship: After the fellowship I plan to continue working in the field of public health informatics at the state or local level. I hope to use the skills I develop in the I-TIPP fellowship to help public health programs use information technology as effectively as possible to facilitate positive public health outcomes. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: I chose the I-TIPP fellowship because I felt it would complement my previous training and experience in health informatics. Most of my exposure to public health informatics has been through informal on-the-job training at my position at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). I felt that the I-TIPP fellowship offered a way to gain formal informatics training that could be applied directly to the work I do at MDH. In addition, the ability to network and learn from other I-TIPP fellows seemed like an invaluable way to gain a broader perspective and understanding of health informatics.

Mary Dinsdale, MS Place of Birth: Ogden, UT Highest Degree Obtained: M.S., Sociology, Portland State University Host Site: Oregon Health Authority Primary Supervisor: Curtis Cude, B.S. Secondary Supervisor: Michelle Barber, M.S. Future plans after the fellowship: After I complete the fellowship I plan to continue my work in the Environmental Public Health section at the Oregon Public Health Division. I will use the knowledge and experience I gained through the I-TIPP program to apply informatics principles within my program and provide assistance to other programs in the section. Why you chose the I-TIPP program: I chose the I-TIPP program because I do not have a formal training in informatics, yet much of the work I do is based in informatics. This program gives me the opportunity to receive a high level of training while maintaining my current position at the Oregon Public Health Division. The experience and knowledge gained through this program will allow me to apply evidence-based informatics principles and practices to my current and future work. I also chose the I-TIPP program because it is an interactive training program that has a diverse peernetwork with a focus on applied informatics. Steve Eichner, MPA, PMP Place of Birth: Fort Lauderdale, FL Highest Degree Obtained: MPA, Florida Atlantic University Certifications: PMP Host Site: Texas Department of State Health Services Primary Supervisor: Kalunde Wambua, MPAff Secondary Supervisor: Linda Gaul, PhD Future plans after the fellowship: I plan to continue my career in advancing health informatics and health information technology, providing guidance and leadership to organizations and communities who are interested in improving the health of their clients and residents. Building upon my professional experience and academic training, I am especially interested in the development and advancement of interoperability that enables better use of data to understand and manage disease at both the community and individual level. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: I am very interested in the I-TIPP fellowship to gain additional experience in health informatics to support public health. The opportunity to work with experts across the country to identify strategies to advance within health departments, tools and policy approaches to advance interoperability of health information systems, advance the use of interoperability standards, and develop a better understanding of systems thinking and problem solving in the health information arena is unparalleled. I am also excited to share my knowledge and expertise with my other fellows, learning what has worked well in other states and at the federal level, and establishing a network of colleagues across the country that will continue to work together, sharing resources and information to continuously improve and expand the use of health informatics with the goal positively impacting the delivery of health services and the population s health.

Leah Eisenstein, MPH Place of Birth: Columbia, SC Highest Degree Obtained: MPH Epidemiology, Emory University Host Site: Florida Department of Health Future plans after the fellowship: After finishing the I-TIPP program, I intend to continue working in state-level disease surveillance in Florida. I am particularly interested in surveillance system development and how data from those surveillance systems can be efficiently translated into information to guide public health actions and policies. Our ability to generate data has increased exponentially over the past few decades, resulting in the potential to revolutionize public health if appropriately harnessed. I hope to improve Florida s utilization of electronic laboratory reporting, increase the ability to quickly analyze risk factor data collected during case and outbreak investigations, and explore novel ways to use new data. Why you chose the I-TIPP program: The I-TIPP program offers a unique opportunity for on-the-job training and networking. While I have worked on informatics-related projects for several years in my current position, I lacked any formal public health informatics training. Participating in this program allows me to gain formal training on shared concepts in theory and methodology, technical language, and skills, which I can immediately apply in my daily work. The national network of peers developed by participating in this program allows for collaborative problem solving, which will be a tremendous asset in the years to come. Amy Laurent, MSPH Place of Birth: Charleston, SC Highest Degree Obtained: MSPH, Epidemiology, University of South Carolina Host Site: Public Health, Seattle & King County, WA Primary Supervisor: Marguerite Ro, DrPH Secondary Supervisor: Nadine Chan, PhD Future plans after the fellowship: After the I-TIPP fellowship, I plan to continue working as an epidemiologist at Public Health, Seattle & King County in the Assessment, Policy Development & Evaluation unit. Using the tools, techniques, and trainings received in I-TIPP, I intend to collaborate with internal and external groups to integrate informatics into routine local public health work with the hope of providing understandable, rapid and seamless access to data for community partners, government decision-makers and the public, in addition to enhancing and streamlining work flow. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: The I-TIPP program provides a unique opportunity to develop and expand informatics knowledge and skillsets through training and hands-on experience, strengthening both the individual and their organization. The program fit well with my strong interests of informatics, public health, and epidemiology. I m passionate about good data leading to good decisions. Building a connected community of practice throughout public health local jurisdictions and informatics experts offers the prospect of innovative concepts, thoughts, and approaches.

Jacquelyn Lee, BS Place of Birth: San Diego, CA Highest Degree Obtained: BS, Business University of Redlands Certifications: Project Management, Global Knowledge Host Site: Kentucky, Department for Public Health Primary Supervisor: Greg Martin, MA Journalism, MA Educations Secondary Supervisor: Stephanie Mayfield, MD, FCAP Future plans after the fellowship: My future plans after the fellowship are to pursue a Master s degree in public health informatics. I plan to continue working for the Kentucky Department for Public Health, utilizing my informatics skills to improve public health practice and outcomes. I would also like to continue with the fellowship partners as a mentor for future I-TIPP fellows. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: I chose the I-TIPP program to receive formal public health informatics training. In my years of service with the state, I learned about informatics either on my own, as on-the-job learning, through webinars or from other colleagues with some level of informatics knowledge or experience. I-TIPP is an opportunity that fit my needs to learn about applied public health informatics. Allison H. Longenberger, PhD Place of Birth: Johnstown, PA Highest Degree Obtained: PhD, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Host Site: Pennsylvania Department of Health Primary Supervisor: Kirsten Waller, MD, MPH Future plans after the fellowship: Following the fellowship I will continue to seek opportunities to advance my knowledge and skills in public health informatics with the eventual goal of obtaining a certificate in public health informatics. My long-term career goal is to become a supervisor within the Pennsylvania Department of Health s Bureau of Epidemiology, providing leadership and strategic direction in epidemiology and informatics. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: As a PhD Epidemiologist without any formal training in public health informatics, the I-TIPP program s innovative approach to competency-based training for full-time employees was an exciting and appealing concept. I chose the program to learn from leaders in the field, to engage in peer networking, and for the opportunity to participate in educational opportunities directly related to public health informatics. The program will provide me with the necessary tools to make immediate and impactful changes to the Bureau of Epidemiology.

Tammy Shrivers, MSW Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH Highest Degree Obtained: MSW, The Ohio State University Host Site: Ohio Department of Health Primary Supervisor: Brian Fowler, MPH Future Plans after the fellowship: I plan to apply skills and methods learned in this training to my job as coordinator of Ohio s disease surveillance system. I will also utilize collaborative networks for future systems development and offer my experiences and expertise to other informatics professionals as well. I am hopeful that my involvement with informatics groups with other stakeholders will evolve into long term relationships and the development of future initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. Why I chose the I-TIPP Program: I chose the I-TIPP Program for several reasons. 1)The wealth of knowledge and resources available to me between the PHII, CSTE, NACCHO, and CDC collaboration; 2) The ability to learn and apply new techniques at my existing job; 3) The opportunity to network with others doing similar projects at their state and local health departments. Joshua Vogel, MPH Place of Birth: Boston, MA Highest Degree Obtained: MPH, Health Policy and Management, Boston University Host Site: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Primary Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Land, PhD Secondary Supervisor: Steven Mills Future plans after the fellowship: Following the completion of the fellowship, I plan to continue pursuing a career in the public sector, finding ways in which data can enrich and enhance the work done in public health. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: The I-TIPP program provides those involved with informatics and public health the opportunity to expand their professional network in a meaningful way. There is a high degree of similarity between projects that public health departments are working on, but each organization is at its own stage, allowing for mutual sharing of experiences and ultimately saving time and money. I-TIPP will also be providing the opportunity for professional development throughout the year, which can be helpful in a budgetary environment where funds for training can be scarce.

Biru Yang, PhD, PMP Place of Birth: Taipei, Taiwan Highest Degree Obtained: PhD, Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health Certifications: Project Management Professional Certification (PMP) Host Site: Houston Department of Health and Human Services Primary Supervisor: Juliana Brixey, RN, PhD Secondary Supervisor: Raouf A. Arafat, MD, MPH Work Supervisor: Marcia L. Wolverton, MPH Future plans after the fellowship: Utilizing the knowledge gained during the I-TIPP program, I hope to catalyze changes in disease surveillance systems at the local health department. In the long term, I would be excited to mentor fellow informaticians through teaching and involvement in health informatics projects. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: I chose the I-TIPP program because it emphasizes mentoring, professional development, and peer-to-peer networking. This fellowship exposes me to initiatives, challenges, and opportunities, and it provides access to leaders and organizations in the field of public health informatics. I saw this fellowship as a great opportunity to obtain valuable training while promoting the use of informatics in my current position. Roxie Zarate, MPH Place of Birth: Tallahassee, FL Highest Degree Obtained: MPH, Environmental Epidemiology, Florida A&M University Certifications: CIC Host Site: Washington State Department of Health Primary Supervisor: Bryant Karras, MD Secondary Supervisor: Cathy Wasserman, PhD Future plans after the fellowship: I hope to continue working in informatics at the state level and use the knowledge I gain both from the I-TIPP and my work experiences to drive informed decision making in future public health projects. I d like to find a position that allows me to utilize my knowledge and passion for epidemiology. Public health informatics is a perfect way to bridge epidemiology and information technology. Why you chose the I-TIPP Program: Although I do not have formal training in informatics, I worked closely with a technical group that develops and implements functionality for the vaccine management portion of the Washington State Immunization Information System. My knowledge of informatics has been gained solely through on the job experience. Formal informatics training, like the I-TIPP, complements the hands-on experience that I have already received and enhances my knowledge in a field that is invaluable in the advancement of effective public health programs.

INFORMATICS-TRAINING IN PLACE PROGRAM CORE COMPETENCIES Fellows will develop a comprehensive set of core skills through competency-based training. These competencies are expected to be fulfilled during the one-year fellowship: Analysis, Assessment and Evaluation Formulate a public health informatics (PHI) problem to enable design of effective solutions Assess data, information, knowledge needs and resources to support decision making and problem solving Apply the scientific method to PHI problem solving Communication Implement a communication plan to engage stakeholders Synthesize information for dissemination to technical and non-technical audiences Apply team management strategies, such as conflict resolution, active listening, and negotiation skills, with individuals and groups Develop strategies for interacting with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds Public Health Informatics Sciences Apply software engineering models and methods to software development life cycle Recommend solutions that assure confidentiality, security and integrity while maximizing availability of information for public health Formulate models for acquisition, representation, processing, display, or transmission of public health information Apply information standards in developing public health information systems projects and interoperable public health information systems Health System Change Develops a vision for system change Demonstrates self-awareness and one s impact on others Plan with community partners to solve an informatics problem I-TIPP CURRENT FELLOW PROJECTS Fellows participate in a variety of projects surrounding meaningful use and surveillance system improvement. Fellows work on least one dedicated fellowship project in addition to managing their regular workload. Analysis of data needs for the Minnesota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program Updating message mapping guides Implement a query tool to interface with Florida s Health Information Exchange (HIE) Develop a portal to increase public access to Environmental Public Health Tracking data Develop a data visualization tool for community health assessment Pilot the digital version of the Laboratory Efficiencies Initiative Self- Assessment tool Standardization of Electronic Laboratory Reporting test messages Conduct a review of policy development and legislation policy as it relates to health information technology policies Build a data warehouse to integrate multiple data sources Evaluate the timeliness and completeness of Electronic Laboratory Reporting

2872 Woodcock Boulevard Suite 250 Atlanta, Georgia 30341 t 770.458.3811 f 770.458.8516 www.shinefellows.org