Incorporation of School Absenteeism Data into the Maryland Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE)

Authors

  • Zachary Faigen Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Anikah Salim Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Isaac Ajit Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4582

Abstract

The state of Maryland has incorporated 100% of its public school systems (1,424 schools) into a statewide syndromic surveillance system. This session will discuss the process, challenges, and best practices for expanding the ESSENCE system to include school absenteeism data as part of disease surveillance.

Author Biographies

Zachary Faigen, Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Zachary Faigen earned his B.S. degree in biology from the University of South Carolina in 2006 and his M.S.P.H. degree in epidemiology from Emory University in 2008. He has worked as an epidemiologist in both the private and public sectors. As the ESSENCE team leader, he has conducted syndromic surveillance at DHMH OP&R for the last two and a half years.

Anikah Salim, Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Anikah Salim graduated from Oakwood University with her B.S. degree in biology in 2007 and continued her education at Loma Linda University earning her M.P.H. in environmental epidemiology in 2009. She has worked in public health at the local, Federal and state levels. She became board certified in public health in February 2012, and for the past year has worked with ESSENCE as a biosurveillance epidemiologist at the DHMH Office of Preparedness and Response.

Isaac Ajit, Office of Preparedness & Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Dr. Ajit Isaac is the deputy director of the Office of Preparedness & Response at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He oversees the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, Hospital Preparedness Program, as well as the ESSENCE program. Prior to working for DHMH, he worked at a local health department with the preparedness program. He has extensive experience in international public health and medicine and has worked with the state and private sector internationally.

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Published

2013-03-24

How to Cite

Faigen, Z., Salim, A., & Ajit, I. (2013). Incorporation of School Absenteeism Data into the Maryland Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE). Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i1.4582

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations