Incumbents in this series are medical doctors licensed to practice in the state of Washington.

Compiles, maintains, and analyzes health data and reports. Identifies causative agents or conditions resulting in adverse health conditions. Proposes and/or initiates corrective action or epidemiological investigations. Coordinates disease investigations. Coordinates local, state, and/or federal programs investigating human morbidity and mortality. Provides public health information and consultative services. Medical positions provide professional medical consultation in the performance of these duties.

Plans, organizes, and conducts statewide public health investigations or studies of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or assists in the administration of established medical programs.

As a licensed physician conducts special epidemiologic studies related to communicable, noncommunicable, and chronic diseases and related conditions; applies epidemic disease-analysis techniques to noncommunicable diseases to determine the degree of relationship to exercise, weather, sanitation, availability and response to medical treatment, and other epidemiologic factors.

Plans and directs joint field investigations of communicable diseases in cooperation with program supervisors and health officers;

Directs a small staff of clerical, statistical, nursing, and/or sanitation personnel in the gathering, processing, and analyzing of data;

Advises local health authorities in establishing and administering local disease control programs or regarding other problems in which epidemiological information is required;

Reviews medical histories and makes determinations as to the need for public health medical care and hospitalization;

Prepares regular and special reports regarding the results of investigations and studies affecting statewide health problems or problems peculiar to local area; dictates reports, memoranda, letters, and other correspondence; speaks before lay organizations and professional groups relative to public health issues;

Proposes and/or initiates epidemiological investigations of communicable disease outbreaks, chronic illness conditions, or other adverse health outcomes;

Identifies and/or proposes corrective action to environmental conditions resulting in adverse health conditions;

Participates in the design and management of surveillance systems for diseases of public health importance, including continuous ongoing surveillance as well as specialized short-term surveillance;

Disseminates scientific and public health information through writing, editing, and submitting reports and articles to internal and scientific publications, and the presentation of seminars, conferences, and lectures, and in a variety of training, educational, and scientific settings including state and national meetings; engages in teaching and training of health professionals; prepares public health education materials and gives presentations, advice, and information to constituent groups including broadcast and print media and the general public;

Coordinates local, state and/or federal health research programs investigating human morbidity and mortality;

May supervise lower level staff.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Positions required to practice medicine in the field of epidemiology must have a license to practice medicine in the state of Washington.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A license to practice medicine and surgery in one of the fifty states or Canada, completion of one year rotating internship, and one year of graduate training in public health,

OR

A Medical degree with a Master's degree in epidemiology or a Master's degree in public health including 12 graduate quarter hours (500 level or above) in epidemiology and 12 graduate quarter hours in biostatistics. Completion of related training or experience such as with the Centers for Disease Control or the National Institute of Health will substitute for MPH degree,

OR

An M.D. degree with a Master's degree in public health and completion of one year rotating internship.

Note: When an M.D. is selected, a license to practice medicine in the state of Washington must be obtained.

New class consolidates 53521 Epidemiologist 2 (Medical), 50600 Public Health Physician 2; effective June 1, 2005.
Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.