New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 369
Trenton,
NJ
USA
08625
Email:
Simi.Octania-Pole@doh.state.nj.us
Biographical Sketch:
NJ Department of Health and Senior Services – Director Data Systems Trenton, NJ June 2006-Present
Responsible for all surveillance systems in the Communicable Disease Service (CDS). Duties include but are not limited to the following activities-
•Represent CDS for electronic reporting and messaging
•Provide long and short term strategy for electronic surveillance systems used in CDS
•Ensure inter-operability, PHIN, and HIPAA compliance in system development
•Liaison with stakeholders and IT to ensure business needs are communicated effectively
•Prepare grant applications and proposals for federal funding sources to sustain surveillance applications
NJ Department of Health and Senior Services – West Nile Virus Coordinator Trenton, NJ July 2003-Present
Coordinate WNV program for the State of New Jersey. Duties include but are not limited to the following activities-
•Supervise and develop WNV staff
•Coordinate, maintain and update the Online WNV/GIS surveillance and reporting system
•Liaison with cooperating agencies and laboratories to obtain data
•Prepare reports, presentations and statistical analysis of surveillance data
•Conduct training and educational programs regarding epidemiology and control of WNV
•Prepare annual grant application for CDC funding
University of Pennsylvania - Director of Geographic Information System (GIS) Philadelphia, PA 2000-June 2003
•GIS expert on two (>$1MM) GIS applications involving real estate and socio-economic urban data used extensively for neighborhood redevelopment initiatives in Philadelphia.
•Designed and customized GIS applications, coordinated budgets, schedules, and contracts.
•Worked with top-level client management, negotiating schedules, meetings, data transfer, and resolving data confidentiality issues.
•GIS Consultant for several health-related projects with faculty from University of Pennsylvania Medical School
•Conducted GIS courses designed for geospatial research for professionals, staff and students.
•Created and implemented spatial data warehouse.
•Designed, created and implemented data processes, which resulted in quick turn around time for data requests.
PlanGraphics Inc. - Research Analyst Frankfort, KY 1999-2000
•Designed strategic implementation plans for GIS deployment at a number of local governments.
•Conducted departmental needs analysis for multiple clients.
•Organized a workshop for a state agency, on Partnership and Consortium Building in local governments.
•Coordinator for a leading provider of remote sensing data. Served as chief liaison, developed market development strategies, and organized informational workshops for integrating remote sensing data with GIS applications.