ADPH Careers: Disease Intervention Specialist

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) employs Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) in multiple programs throughout the state. DIS staff provide advanced field investigative work in support of the prevention and control of communicable diseases.

Those taking on the role of DIS will be required to perform a number of ongoing tasks in the investigation of potential outbreaks, including:

  • Locating patients, partners, suspects, and/or associates for clinical examination and treatment.
  • Interviewing the potentially exposed patients, partners, suspects, and/or associates of those infected to ensure they are promptly examined, adequately treated, and referred when necessary for specialized medical care.
  • Notifying index patients (individuals with the first known case of an infectious disease in a population, region, or family) of results shared with ADPH.
  • Assisting with outbreak response including patient interviews, specimen collection, and recommending control measures.
  • Providing education about infectious disease detection, testing, and reporting to mandatory disease reporters including healthcare providers, child care directors, and school principals.
  • Educating the public on risks associated with the disease in question.

In certain situations, the role of the DIS may expand to include assisting in clinical overflow, outbreak response, emergency response, natural disaster recovery, staffing shelters, and more.

"Successful Disease Intervention Specialists show initiative and are organized, intuitive, resourceful, caring, compassionate, aggressive, and good conversationalists," said Jennifer Johnson-Collins, a DIS with ADPH's Division of STD Prevention and Control.

Opportunities for Advancement

Incoming DIS personnel will be tasked with performing basic frontline duties of the job under close supervision for their first 6 months. Once that probationary period has passed, the DIS transitions to permanent status and continues working to master the responsibilities of the position.

DIS with at least 2 years of experience in permanent status may be eligible for promotion to the DIS Senior position. Following an additional 2 years in the Senior position, personnel can transition into the DIS Supervisor position, which involves managing others in DIS positions while also executing activities as needed by the department.

DIS Supervisors with at least 4 years of experience in that role may become eligible for promotion to Program Manager positions if recommended.

Open for Application

Visit the Office of Human Resources Application Process page to learn more about applying for positions at ADPH.

Those interested in applying for Disease Intervention Specialist positions should visit the following State of Alabama Personnel Department announcements for requirements and instructions.

More ADPH Careers

Visit Careers to learn more about other open positions at ADPH. For additional information on current employment opportunities with ADPH, visit our Office of Human Resources.

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