Increasing Data Capacity Efforts. In November 2020, the MSDH Office of Data Governance launched the MSDH Data Request Online Form. This online form provides a centralized method for both the public and MSDH employees to submit requests for data and records managed by the agency. The online form enables the agency to track where and how agency data is being shared and used. Because of this, the MCH staff will be able to collaborate across programs throughout the agency in sharing and obtaining data.

MCH Epidemiologist / CDC Assignee. In October 2020, MSDH was assigned a Senior MCH Epidemiologist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since coming to MSDH, Dr. Kasehagen has been working in the Office of Health Data, Operations & Research (OHDOR) to: (1) facilitate HIPAA secure virtual environments for epidemiologists where they can maintain and analyze data; (2) inform data governance regarding data standards and data sharing; (3) review and provide scientific oversight of analyses and analytic products of the epidemiology staff; (4) provide technical assistance to program staff and epidemiologists on grant or cooperative agreements, data analyses, evaluations, and performance and outcome monitoring; and (5) provide technical assistance to MSDH on the review and design / selection of a pregnancy care coordination program and an evidence-based case management program for pregnant women, postpartum women and infants to replace the state’s current case management program. Dr. Kasehagen also has been working on the design and build of an administrative database of all women, children and families served by various MCH programs; revising standardized process and outcome measure definitions and a standardized report to the state’s Division of Medicaid; working to extract early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) program data from MSDH legacy data systems for transfer into a functional, accessible SQL database; and working with the MSDH REDCap Administrator on the design and implementation of multiple REDCap-based data projects. In addition, Dr. Kasehagen sits on the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee and conducts analysis of MMRIA data, collaborates with external and internal partners to provide data to support AIM-related performance measures, conducts analyses on infant and maternal morbidity and mortality and adverse experiences, and mentors staff on analytic methods and communication product design and development.

Once the reorganization of OHDR is complete, Dr. Kasehagen will devote more time to analytic projects using a variety of data sources, including claims-based and administrative data, vital records, surveillance system data, and national surveys to respond to and support the needs of MCH. She also works on the translation and dissemination of analytic findings for programmatic and policy use to improve population health.

CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow and Epidemiology Interns. In her role as a CDC assignee, Dr. Kasehagen also is responsible for building epidemiologic capacity. Three universities in Mississippi (University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center) offer advanced degrees in public and population health, epidemiology, and biostatistics. MSDH has a strong working relationship with these universities as well as Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health with the Harvard-Mississippi Delta Fellowship in Public Health. OHDR is incredibly successful in bringing in epidemiology interns and fellows to learn and support analytic capacity at MSDH. In her first nine (9) months, she prepared applications with state colleagues and successfully participated in the CDC-Harvard Evaluation Practicum and secured a CSTE applied epidemiology fellow who will be working across several topical areas in MCH, birth defects, and health equity and two Harvard University epidemiology student interns who will be working on an adverse experiences across the life course project. In addition, Dr. Kasehagen will be mentoring two public health pharmacy residents on their analytic projects over the next year. She also has been working to re-establish the MSDH Grand Rounds series.