Allison Connolly Email & Phone Number

Raleigh, North Carolina

Technical and managerial leadership on projects to strengthen data and information systems, especially in the areas of HIV, One Health and COVID-19 surveillance; and child protection. Work across the data life cycle, with a focus on sustainability: In Honduras, I co-created a mentorship program in surveillance and data management for the Secretary of Health. I also designed and oversaw implementation of Data Quality Assessments (DQA) of COVID-19 surveillance data in two health regions. I collaborated to implement a weekly surveillance bulletin for the U.S. Embassy’s COVID-19 Task Force. (HP+ and Data.FI Projects)Advise on the design and implementation of One Health surveillance projects: In Senegal, I supported the launch One-Health surveillance of 8 priority diseases. I assisted the animal and human health sectors to establish case definitions and an integrated case investigation procedure and data flow. (MEASURE Evaluation). Support country governments to identify, design, test and implement suitable digital systems: On the Data for Impact Project in Colombia, I guided the introduction of new methods to engage end users to pinpoint usability problems with the child protection information system, and help design and validate solutions. I also managed the budget, human resources, and USAID engagement over the 3-year project lifecycle. KPIs: I have designed visualizations for dashboards in DHIS2 for child protection indicators and developed indicator reference sheets for a wide range of indicators.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Designed the methodology to implement PEPFAR’s Human Resources Information System Assessment Framework (HAF) for the Philippines government. With local staff, I implemented the assessment, analyzed the data, and presented the results. (HRH2030 Project). Managed the redesign of the Integrated Supportive Supervision mobile application for the Ministry of Health in Malawi. Tested the app and validated 100+ program indicators across all aspects of supervision of health facilities. (HP+ Project)

Managed 2 Palladium subawards in Zambia, including budgets and 13 staff. The projects delivered technical and user support for the national EHR mobile app, used to provide community-based HIV treatment; created an interoperable dashboard to monitor HIV treatment; and routine reporting and analyses of PEPFAR indicators in DATIM for 96 health facilities. (AIDS-Relief Transition and Stop Mother and Child HIV Transition (SMACHT) Projects)

Port Loko District, Sierra Leone

• With local government and partners in Port Loko District, developed and piloted Standard Operating Procedures for surveillance activities tailored to late stage of outbreak, including:- Assessing strength of Ebola surveillance in small geographic areas and devising improvement plans. - Investigation of suspected malaria cases which also met the case definition for suspected Ebola.- Active case search and other routine surveillance activities, to be re-established in the transition from solely Ebola surveillance and response. • Conducted training to support implementation of SOP and to build capacity for the recovery period, including adoption of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR).

Bombali And Port Loko Districts, Sierra Leone

• Bombali District: - Instituted comprehensive approach to case investigation, using qualitative interviewing techniques and triangulation to improve risk assessment and elicitation of source case and contacts; liaised with civic, religious and health leaders. Trained 28 surveillance officers in these methods. Mentored teams 4-5 days per week in the field by joining them on challenging investigations. - Conducted case and contact investigations in hospitals and Ebola holding centers. Planned follow up with Infection Prevention and Control experts- Conducted detailed daily review of case investigations with team leaders to ensure quality, mentor, and plan follow up. Reconciled 50+ sick and death reports to hotline per day.- Oversaw Ebola contact investigation in 4 districts of 37 drivers who transported responders.- Collaborated with African Union, CDC and others to respond to complex situations such as community quarantines.- Implemented procedures to improve Ebola hotline and minimize errors at alert desk. Analyzed work processes to identify/remediate gaps in coordination across response sectors. • Port Loko District-Performed similar work during last month of deployment: - Instituted daily reviews of case investigations with surveillance officers, providing quality assurance and improved accuracy of situation reports. Conducted classroom and field training.- Trained 3 GOAL & 1 WHO staff to manage case investigation, in preparation to assume leadership.

Nepal And Ethiopia

• Provided technical assistance daily at health facilities for surveillance and EPI, highlighting Acute Flaccid Paralysis, measles and neonatal tetanus. Performed active case search.• Gave on-site training for health workers at facilities (e.g. case definitions; AFP specimen-collection procedures; measles case finding).• Monitored immunization outreach sessions to assess quality of services and training of lay health volunteers (e.g. community mobilization; vaccine administration).• Assessed EPI, including cold chain, waste management; registers and immunization coverage. • Trained district Surveillance and EPI Program Managers to improve comprehensive and systematic monitoring of facilities. Approach was adopted by district office (Ethiopia).• Reported district surveillance data monthly, and summary of data from facility assessment tools.• Polio Campaigns: Monitored vaccinators and supervisors, and offered just-in-time training; conducted Rapid Convenience Surveys to assess quality of campaign in areas with high-risk populations or historically low coverage.

Raleigh, North Carolina

SURVEILLANCE AND MANAGEMENT• Founding member of project management team that converted NC’s paper-based surveillance system to a web-based platform: North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NC EDSS). • Collaborated with subjected-matter experts in the programs for Tuberculosis, HIV/STD, General Communicable Diseases and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases to design NC EDSS to capture data needed for surveillance. • Analyzed work processes for case identification, contact tracing and case management to devise ways to increase efficiency of operations through automation. • Led effort to standardize the data collected across programs- required for an integrated approach to surveillance, where data could be analyzed across programs. • Led HIV/Syphilis staff in testing NC EDSS to determine usability for field investigations. Documented specifications to better support field investigations and case management.• Planned logistics and executed pilot testing of software at local health departments for 3 phases of rollout. • Established NC EDSS Help-desk and managed it for 8 years (3 staff). TRAINING:• Directed all instructional activities to train ~2000 nurses, epidemiologists and data entrants during 4 phases of rollout from 2006-2013.• Oversaw curriculum development and delivery of 4 distinct courses for General Communicable Diseases/STD; HIV/Syphilis; Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Tuberculosis. • Instructor, focusing on surveillance and reporting requirements and electronic laboratory reporting.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR INJURY PREVENTION AND CONTROL (CDC); March - August 2001DIVISION OF VIRAL HEPATITIS (CDC); September 2000 - February 2001 STD/AIDS PROGRAM, IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & WELFARE; Sept 2001 – Sept 2003• Conducted department’s first needs assessment for HIV prevention services among Latino agricultural workers. Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data and disseminated findings. • Provided technical assistance to the Immunization and the Newborn Screening Programs with program planning/evaluation. Developed logic models, goals, objectives, and performance indicators to improve surveillance, quality assurance and engagement with partners.

Master Of Public Health (Mph)

Master Of Arts (Ma)

Bachelor Of Science - Bs