Chelsea Kendrick
Tampa
Summary
Skilled epidemiologist with extensive experience at the Florida Department of Health, excelling in disease investigation and surveillance. Proven leader in cross-agency collaboration and employee training, successfully supervising teams to enhance public health outcomes. Possesses strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Recognized for delivering impactful presentations, and implementing effective reporting strategies.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Biological Scientist III- SES
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
Tampa
08.2022 - Current
- Supervise staff conducting investigations of reportable diseases, ensuring adherence to case reporting guidelines.
- Monitor customer service delivery and verify the accuracy of disease information provided to clients.
- Coordinate development opportunities and train a team of fifteen staff members on current reportable disease information, and ensure the implementation of best practices.
- Manage the workloads of five direct reports, reallocating tasks to optimize efficiency as necessary.
- Collaborate with the Epidemiology Program Manager on team organization and management, serving as backup support for a team of 15.
- Provided technical assistance and guidance across the agency.
- Present epidemiologic findings to internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead and supervise a new data team of four, overseeing data, research, and performance management projects agency-wide.
- Organized outreach events in Hillsborough county to educate residents on disease prevention and FDOH resources.
Biological Scientist Ill
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
Tampa
09.2018 - 08.2022
- Lead investigations of Hepatitis A, Influenza and Respiratory outbreaks
- Monitored and analyzed weekly Influenza data and prepare reports for county and state health office
- Prepared Hepatitis A and Influenza surveillance reports weekly
- Organized joint assessments regulatory agencies and internal and external partners
- Collaborated with other departments for vaccination clinics, organizing testing and community outreach to limit disease spread
- Lead a team of 20 case investigators for COVID 19 investigations in Long term care facilities.
- Provided technical assistance, disease investigation guidance and trainings to over 60 COVID 19 contact tracers
- Trained over 10 epidemiology staff in disease investigations and epidemiologic response.
- Collaborate with infection control practitioners in local hospitals and other facilities to identify and investigate cases of reportable diseases
- Presented important epidemiology case findings to state health office on Bi-weekly and regional calls to provide best practices for high priority investigations
- Utilize Merlin, HMS, Lexis Nexis, FLSHOTS and other Electronic Medical Record systems daily to conduct investigations, complete reports and gather pertinent information
Human Services Program Specialist
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
Tampa
04.2016 - 09.2018
- Responsible for investigating and interviewing cases of acute viral hepatitis and chronic Hepatitis B and C in young adults
- Coordinated multi-agency intervention for hepatitis A outbreak
- Provided hepatitis surveillance trainings to county epidemiologists statewide
- Communicated with medical providers and laboratories to request and review medical records
- Assisted with case and outbreak investigations of reportable diseases
- Contacted clients by telephone or through face to face appointments to conduct an interview, provide education and resources
- Used Merlin, HMS, Lexis Nexis and other Electronic Medical Record systems daily to conduct investigations, complete reports and gather pertinent information
- Attended strategic planning meetings for special projects related to hepatitis C, HPV, family planning
Human Services Program Specialist
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
Tampa
08.2015 - 04.2016
- Medically monitored visitors from countries affected by Ebola outbreaks twice daily for 21 days
- Completed Merlin reports after each field visit
- Respond to foodborne illness reports, complete interview and communicate findings to Environmental Health
- Collected specimens when necessary during case investigations and delivered them to appropriate laboratory
- Interviewed clients affected by pesticide exposure
- Gathered medical information and input data into surveillance system
Discharge Planner
Sacred Heart Hospital, Ascension Health, Social Services
Pensacola
04.2015 - 08.2015
- Collaborated with nursing staff, physicians, physical therapy, external resources and facilities for patient continuum of care
- Facilitated discharge planning by sending referrals through all scripts, obtaining authorization, Insurance authorization, coordinating health care services and transportation for patients
- Assisted patients and families in understanding advanced directives
- Implemented innovative discharge planning for complex patients
Education
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
University of West Florida
05.2015
Skills
- Disease investigation
- Data analysis
- Epidemiological research
- Surveillance reporting
- Project management
- Cross-agency collaboration
- Team leadership
- Presentation skills
- Employee training
- Performance management
Certification
- Certified HCV tester ORAQUICK, 2017
- Laboratory Packaging and Shipping training
- Certificate of completion in basic phlebotomy
- IS 200 ICS for Single resource and initial action
- IS 800 National response framework
- Graduated Cultivating Successful Leaders training, 2019
Affiliations
- FDOH Community Council Chair 2024-Present
- FDOH Community Council member 2016-Present
- CSL Graduate, Class of 2018
- Selected twice by peers as the Community Health Employee of the Quarter
- Acknowledged for contributions to Concurrent Outbreaks of Hepatitis A, Invasive Meningococcal Disease, and Mpox, Florida, USA, 2021–2022, Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, 2024.
Timeline
Biological Scientist III- SES
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
08.2022 - Current
Biological Scientist Ill
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
09.2018 - 08.2022
Human Services Program Specialist
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
04.2016 - 09.2018
Human Services Program Specialist
Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough
08.2015 - 04.2016
Discharge Planner
Sacred Heart Hospital, Ascension Health, Social Services
04.2015 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
University of West Florida
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