May **, ****

Dear Hiring Manager:

I hope this letter finds you well. Kindly, find my application materials for the Coordinator III (Senior Program Coordinator) Ryan White- position. It would be a great honor to be part of your Organization's team. It is my life commitment to contribute to an institution that aims to improve health care quality, affordability, and access, especially to vulnerable populations. I believe my professional background, knowledge, and skills are an excellent match for this position.

I was Monitoring and Evaluation Regional Coordinator for the PEPFAR/CDC HIV Program. As such, I oversaw the implementation of PEPFAR Strategy’s standards which aimed at reaching the 90-90-90 UNAIDS Goals. I was responsible for monitoring and evaluating epidemic control through an information framework that ascertained processes (testing, commodities), outcomes (effective linkages, high ART coverage, high retention and adherence, viral load suppression), and impact (decline in HIV Incidence). The program emphasized the collection and use of disaggregated data that characterized populations living with HIV to determine program performance, learn lessons to improve for future planning and to determine the fidelity with which programmatic interventions were taking to scale within our specific populations and geographic regions.

I am a researcher and have experience in the design, implementation, and analysis of prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional studies acquired at Wageningen University and Brandeis University. I list briefly the studies related to HIV in which I have participated as principal investigator: Pre-feasibility Study to Implement a Specialized Care Strategy for Trans Population living with HIV, the Decentralization of ART Medicine Distribution in Guatemala, and People Living with HIV Stigma Index, Guatemala Chapter. This background knowledge allowed me to obtain an A+ in my Research Project at Brandeis University. I also obtained an A in the following courses at Brandeis: Advanced International Health Economics and Advanced Techniques of Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis.

I have extensive knowledge on the design and implementation of monitoring systems acquired working for USAID-funded projects, CDC, and at the Ministry of Planning of Guatemala which has provided me with the skills and knowledge to work with formal M&E tools. I also have extensive knowledge of quality assessment activities and the design of participatory quality improvement plans. I am very competent in data management and statistical analysis using SPSS, Excel, SAS, STATA, R, and in data dissemination findings for decision making using Tableau and Excel. I am proficient in using Project, Publisher, and the Office Environment. I also have been responsible for leading work teams and I am passionate about project management. I can condense and interpret up-to-date knowledge on health care to elaborate evidence-based plans to improve health care services and am committed to making a key contribution to improve operations and delivery. I am also self-motivated and eager to meet project milestones and deadlines.

In ending, I would like to share that I have a deep belief in the power of partnership and networking. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this with you further.

Best regards,

Ana Virginia Palma

MS Global Health Policy and Management: Economics and Analytics.

Brandeis University

MS Epidemiology and Public Health.

Wageningen University, Netherlands

ANA PALMA

WALTHAM, MA 02452 857-***-**** admquq@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Ten years of professional experience in the healthcare sector. Throughout knowledge of Federal and Massachusetts health care systems and health policies acquired at Brandeis University. Proficient in Public Health, Research Methods, Monitoring and Evaluation, Epidemiological Surveillance, Health Promotion and Coalition Building and Community Organization earned at Brandeis and Wageningen Universities, MOH of Guatemala, and Ministry of Planning of Guatemala, as well as leading more than ten investigations.

Skillful in the implementation of PEPFAR Strategy’s standards which aimed at reaching the 90-90-90 UNAIDS Goals. Expert in monitoring and evaluating epidemic control through an information framework that ascertained processes (testing, commodities), outcomes (effective linkages, high ART coverage, high retention and adherence, viral load suppression), and impact (decline in HIV incidence) using disaggregated data to characterize populations living with HIV to determine program performance, lessons learnt to improve future planning and to determine the fidelity with which programmatic interventions were taking to scale within specific populations and geographic regions.

Proficient in the use of computers and applications such as statistical, word processing, and spreadsheet software. Experienced in the management of databases, construct data files, conduct and support data entry, and perform data edits/cleaning as needed. Skillful in SAS, STATA, SPSS, R, Tableau, and basic ability using SQL server to query, manipulate, profile, and analyze different databases. Experienced in data collection and management obtained by working as data specialist in Guatemala and Netherlands and conducting 10 investigations in both countries which included leading data management activities. Skillful in conducting literature reviews and develop summaries gained while studying both masters and working for Guatemala's Public Health Sector. Competent in implementing cost-effectiveness analysis, and quality assessment activities. Proficient in conducting evaluations to ensure compliance with organization's policies, quality improvement activities and program standards. Excellent organizational skills and ability to accurately complete detailed work. Strong leadership, collaboration skills, motivation. Competent working in a challenging environment, and expertise to support multiple projects simultaneously. Qualified in report elaboration, policy analysis, briefings, data visualization, and presentations. Results-oriented. Ready to leverage 10 years of experience in new position. Insightful and pragmatic with resourceful and detail-oriented approach.

SKILS

Expert in providing services to achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 Cascade

Expert in social determinants of health

Proficient in promoting health of key populations

Epidemiological Surveillance

Report/research elaboration

Statistical Analysis

SAS, SPSS, R, STATA, Excel, Tableau proficiency

Data Management

Microsoft Office

Project Management

Experienced in coalition building

Proficient in community organization

Self-motivated professional

Verbal and written communication

Teamwork

Collaboration

Detail-oriented

WORK HISTORY

OCTOBER 2020-JANUARY 2021

Florida Department of Health. Medical Monitoring Project. Epidemiologist Consultant

Conduct statistical data analysis using survey-specific methods to analyze results from the Behavioral and Health Survey for people Living with HIV in Florida, stratified by county, and sociodemographic factors.

Elaborated annual report of results of the Behavioral and Health Survey for people Living with HIV and its respective dissemination materials, including factsheets in Publisher for specific populations (Latinos, African American, HSH, Women, and people younger than 18 years old).

Performed duties in accordance with all applicable standards, policies, and regulatory guidelines for report to meet National Elaboration Standards.

MAY 2017-AUGUST 2019

Ministry of Public Health. Health Systems Information Consultant

Prioritize and standardize management and performance indicators for the Department.

Design and implement quality improvement program strategies and plans based on indicators' performance.

Design learning activities based upon program results.

Elaborate dashboards for decision making.

APRIL 2016-MARCH 2017

CDC/PEPFAR/Universidad Del Valle De Guatemala Guatemala, Central America/Del Valle University of Guatemala/CDCHIV Program. Monitoring and Evaluation Regional Coordinator.

Proficient preserving and promoting linkage to health care in disproportionately affected populations (key populations) by HIV, with focus in social inequities.

Skillful in community organization, coalition building, and health promotion strategies.

Experienced in elaborating reports for fiscal and programmatic accountability

Design of monitoring and information systems for HIV regional program for Central America.

Coordinate and supervise Regional HIV Epidemiological Surveillance System.

Design and implementation of quality program improvement strategies.

Design and implementation of evaluations.

Provide technical advice, mentor, and develop technical capacity in expansion of access to resources, coalition building, community organization, health promotion strategies, M&E, Quality Assurance, and Information Systems to multiple implementing host-country counterparts in both public and NGO sectors.

JANUARY 2013-MARCH 2016

Chronic Disease Epidemiologist. Guatemala Social Security Institute.

Design of epidemiological surveillance system for chronic diseases.

Elaboration of Report for the Analysis of the Burden of Chronic Diseases at the National and Institutional level.

Elaboration of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases.

JANUARY 2013-JUNE 2013.

Health Information Systems Consultant. Pan American Health Organization.

Design of health information systems according to PAHO’s Health Analysis Framework.

Elaboration of Guatemala’s Chapter for the Health in the America’s Report.

SEPTEMBER 2008-DECEMBER 2012

Policy Analyst Guatemala Ministry of Planning. Public Policy Monitoring Guatemala, Central America

Design and implementation of policy monitoring system for the following sectors: health, food and nutrition security, education, housing, basic services, and employment.

Proficient in working with administrative data and vital statistics to elaborate health indicators

Co-author twice in the elaboration of the Progress Reports for the Millennium Development Goals in Guatemala 2010 and 2015 which was presented at the United Nations Assembly.

Design public policies to achieve in 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.

EDUCATION

2020

Master's: Health Policy and Management: Economics, Analytics

Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. GPA: 3.5

2008

Master’s: Epidemiology and Public Health. Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland. GPA: 3.3

2002

Bachelor's: Nutrition.

San Carlos University, Guatemala City.

GPA: 3.8.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified SAS Programmer, 2021.

Google Certified Project Manager.

SAS PROGRAMMER CERTIFICATE

Skills in manipulating and transforming data, combining SAS data sets, creating detail and summary reports using SAS procedures and identifying and correcting data, syntax, and programming logic errors.

LANGUAGES

Spanish

Bilingual

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