About the role
Position Highlights
Position Title: SUDORS Abstractor
Location: This position is remote and supports New Mexico
Position End Date: 09/29/27
Salary: $70,000 plus benefits
Overview
The CDC Foundation is working with CDC and state and local authorities to provide surge staff to support surveillance, prevention and response activities within the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Capacity Building Initiative program. Under this cooperative agreement, CDC Foundation will hire and place abstractors in OD2A jurisdictions who demonstrate a need for abstraction support to implement OD2A objectives. States are required to submit comprehensive fatal overdose data to CDC twice a year, with data submission timelines varying depending on Tier. For fatal overdoses, states are required to enter abstracted death certificate and coroner and medical examiner reports on unintentional and undetermined intent overdose deaths into the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) which leverages the web-based platform used for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). The abstractor will work closely with epidemiologists on identifying drug overdose deaths that meet the SUDORS case definition, contacting specific coroner and medical examiner offices to request reports, and abstracting appropriate information from the reports into the SUDORS database.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field (required). A medical technician or death investigation certificate is highly preferred but does not substitute for the required bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, or another health-related field is preferred
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
Highly motivated and organized with the ability to work independently and within a team environment
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to be efficient and consistently deliver high-quality work under time constraints
Proficiency in at least one statistical analysis software program (preferably SAS) is preferred but not required
Proficiency in navigating computer systems; ability to learn new data systems quickly and to comply with data integrity and security to safeguard all personal identifiable information
Demonstrated ability to work well independently and within teams
Emotional resilience to deal with potentially triggering data on a daily basis
Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Zoom
Responsibilities
Create and maintain working relationships with vital records and medical examiner/coroner offices, forensic centers, and law enforcement
Abstract data from death certificates and coroner and medical examiner reports, including postmortem toxicology findings, into SUDORS. Data shall be abstracted into online databases in a timely manner using established protocols
Work with the drug overdose surveillance teams to refine their fatal drug overdose data processing and ensure coordination in drug overdose data efforts
Conduct SUDORS data quality assurance activities
Conduct manual reviews of narrative fields within SUDORS as needed
Assist in the completion of SUDORS closeout reports (e.g., case validation and quality control reports)
Attend SUDORS workgroup meetings
Potentially contribute to SUDORS-related manuscripts, surveillance reports, and/or data briefs, depending on interest and skillset.
Maintain working knowledge of all coding guidance and database changes.
Follow data security and confidentiality procedures and protocols
Travel to provide on-site data abstraction, as needed
Other duties as assigned.
Special Notes
This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and New Mexico DOH in order to best support New Mexico in their public health programming.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws, including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.
The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.
Relocation expenses are not included.
About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners to support the public health system, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in preventing and responding to threats to health. In this role, we are focused on one priority: building catalytic, flexible and impactful partnerships—with corporations, philanthropies, individuals and organizations—to help improve the health and lives of people in all communities, everywhere. Visit for more information
Originally posted on Himalayas
