City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Medical Director, Public Health

Under general direction of, and as assigned by, the Director of the Austin Public Health department, this position is responsible for clinical oversight of medical-related services rendered by Austin Public Health department personnel.

1. Performs the duties of local Health Authority as described in State statute (i.e., quarantine, required reporting of infectious diseases, birth and death records), City ordinance, and County regulations.
2. Establishes, maintains, and enforces quarantine in Austin/Travis County.
3. Provides medical leadership in monitoring and responding to potential disease outbreaks.
4. Ensures that all medical-related activities in the department are performed in accordance with applicable license, regulatory, and accreditation standards, including consistent quality assurance standards.
5. Provides direct clinical services as assigned.
6. Advises local physicians concerning communicable disease and other public health concerns.
7. Communicates to the media regarding public health issues as assigned.
8. Serves on department team for emergency operations and public health preparedness.
9. Serves as Department Assistant Director for medical-related services.
10. Provides supervisory and/or leadership responsibilities.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of general preventive medicine and infectious diseases, including epidemiology.
• Knowledge of State and Federal laws pertaining to medicine.
• Knowledge of public health preparedness and response.
• Knowledge of, and understanding of, ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust.
• Knowledge of principles of culture, cultural competency and cultural humility.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other City/County employees, patients and their families, the general public, community, advocacy groups, elected officials, members of the medical profession, governmental bodies, and the media.
• Ability to perform medical examinations, make diagnoses, and prescribe and perform appropriate medical care.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate medical programs and services and ensure all medical activities are performed in accordance with applicable license, regulatory, and accreditation standards and requirements.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality as required by HIPAA and other Texas privacy laws.
• Ability to work professionally and ethically in a multi-cultural team setting.

• Graduation with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from a college or university accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, and a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to Public Health, plus six (6) years of experience in public health or a related field, including four (4) years of experience which were in progressively responsible supervisory/management/administrative capacity.
• Additional experience in a related capacity may substitute for the Master’s degree.

• Licensed to practice medicine in Texas.
• Current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration certificate for Controlled Substances for the purpose of writing prescriptions.
• Board certification in a medical specialty.