Epidemiology, Infection Control, Communicable Diseases, ERP.

Ximena Ilabaca-Somoza, MD (FMG), MPH

Kansas City, MO 816-***-**** ************@*****.*** LinkedIn Professional Summary

Bilingual physician and public health executive with 30+ years of leadership in the U.S. and Mexico. Expertise in Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Recognized for building coalitions, aligning hospital and community priorities, and advancing health equity. I am skilled in program evaluation, data-driven improvement, supervision of multidisciplinary teams, and budget/resource management. Nationally recognized for award-winning models that bridge clinical care, public health, and community engagement. Quality Improvement expertise

Education

• MPH, Epidemiology (Maternal & Child Health; Community Health Education) — Universidad de Guadalajara, 1988

• MD (FMG), Clinical Medicine — Universidad de Guadalajara, 1986 Professional Experience

Jackson County Public Health – Lee’s Summit, MO

Division Manager, Epidemiology & Data Analytics 2022–2025

• Led Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) and aligned Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) with county and hospital partners in compliance with IRS requirements.

• Directed modernization of PHAB accreditation, integrating SDOH and equity priorities.

• Supervised staff and managed division budgets across epidemiology, surveillance, maternal-child health, and behavioral health.

• Established a Community-Based Participatory Research committee ensuring equity-focused CHNA/CHIP priorities reflected community and hospital needs.

• Created surveillance and immunization mapping systems with an health equity framework to inform health improvement strategies.

• Co-led public health emergency preparedness, maintaining CDC high-scoring plans.

CDC Foundation – Kansas

Senior Regional Epidemiologist 2021–2022

• Strengthened public health and hospital partnerships with KDHE across 26 rural health departments.

• Mentored epidemiologists and advanced data modernization to better align with health system needs.

Deschutes County Health Department – Bend, OR

Suicide Epidemiologist & Program Developer 2019–2021

• Developed the county’s first suicide prevention framework, linking health, education, and social services.

• Secured national funding to strengthen community resilience, aligning with CHA/CHIP strategies.

• COVID-19 epidemiologist and vaccine failure evaluation. Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center- Kansas City, KS Research Assistant 2017–2019

• Supported NIH-funded project (T-Score) to increase enrollment of underserved minority students into health careers.

• Trained teachers in health curriculum development for students ‘ led community health assessments and improvement plans.

Clay County Public Health Center – Liberty, MO

Section Chief, Health Planning & Policy 2005–2017

• Directed CHNAs and CHIPs in compliance with IRS requirements; partnered with hospitals, community groups, and state agencies.

• Supervised staff across epidemiology, TB, emergency response, health equity, and planning.

• Developed award-winning equity initiatives:

o School Syndromic Surveillance System (2014 NACCHO Model Practice). o Health Equity Advisory Council (2016 NACCHO Model Practice).

• Managed budgets, grants, and program evaluations across maternal-child health, tobacco, and chronic disease.

• Rebuild Public Health Emergency Response Plan (100% CDC score).

• Worked to achieve the PHAB Accreditation for Clay County in 2015 University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas Cancer Institute – Kansas City, KS Cancer Outreach Coordinator 1996–2004

• Built coalitions to expand cancer screening and minority participation in clinical trials across Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, serving as advisor for those three states.

• Secured NIH and Susan G. Komen Foundation funding; advised states on outreach and evaluation strategies.

• Worked on the 2000 Breast Cancer treatment Act

• Worked on the Kansas Cancer Institute Designation as Nationally Recognized Cancer Center

State of Jalisco Health Secretary – Guadalajara, Mexico Progressive Leadership Roles 1980–1995

• Directed statewide maternal-child health and infectious disease programs.

• Implemented state’s first HIV/AIDS surveillance and education program.

• Supervised hospitals implementing WHO protocols on Maternal and Infant Health Research & Grants

• NIH-funded CBPR projects on minority health and recruitment.

• Suicide prevention and resilience grants.

• Cancer outreach funding (NCI, Susan G. Komen).

• Pandemic preparedness and surveillance projects (Jackson County, CDC Foundation).

Boards & Professional Service

• Board Member, Maternal & Child Health Coalition of Greater Kansas City

• Board Member William Jewell School of Nursing

• Co-Founder & Co-Chair, Kansas City Data Collaborative

• Board Member, Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center

• Founder, Coalition of Hispanic Women Against Cancer

• Co-Founder Native American Heartland Cancer Network Honors & Awards

• NACCHO Model Practice Awards (2014, 2016)

• NCI Hispanic Outreach Awards (1997, 1998)

• Nominee, Federal Advisory Board on Infection Control (2024, 2025) Skills

• CHNA & CHIP (IRS compliance)

• Quality Improvement initiatives in programmatic areas regarding effectiveness and efficiency

• Community & hospital partnerships

• Infection control protocols and epide

• Supervision & workforce development

• Program evaluation & data-driven improvement

• Budget & resource management

• Health equity & SDOH integration

• Emergency preparedness (CDC high scores)

• EPIC, Essence, RedCap, SAS, R Maps. Large Data sets analysis, Advance Microsoft Suite

• Public Speaker

• Adult Education

• Budget Management

• Staff Management and retention.

• Bilingual: English & Spanish

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