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Hire Dr. Kendra V.

United States

USD 75 /hr

Science Communicator | Expert in medical writing, editing, and presentation development

Profile Summary

I hold a PhD in Immunology and an MPH degree in Epidemiology and have worked in at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) since 2008. Since that time I have worked in several capacities, most recently as Director of the Health Department’s Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR). I oversee a team that is working to reduce the number of illicit opioid and other drug initiates while ensuring that individuals in active addiction are receiving the harm reduction and treatment resources they need. My team is also responsible for managing and analyzing data on local drug use and its consequences, including overdoses, hospitalizations, and drug treatment utilization, and preparing summary reports and statistics that are used to inform City policy and initiatives. From 2012 – 2017, I led the Department’s Viral Hepatitis Program, during which time I spearheaded a number of special projects using surveillance data in order to better inform prevention efforts in Philadelphia. Among these was the launch of the Nation’s first perinatal hepatitis C program, aimed at raising awareness about the disease among pregnant mothers and ensuring that exposed infants are appropriately tested. I have 20 years of experience writing grants and peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, managing data, creating content for presentations and serving as a subject matter expert for several scientific disciplines, including epidemiology, infectious diseases, substance abuse awareness and prevention, and immunology. I lead a team of 35 staff and have strong management and team building skills. I have been involved in the launch of dozens of new projects and initiatives and have a deep understanding of what it takes to see a project through to completion. I have a unique capacity to find the ‘story’ in any project findings and can put this into language that is easily understood by a lay audience.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Science Communication
• ☆ Public Health
• ☆ Project Management

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Technical Writing, Copywriting, Newswriting

Research Market Research, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Big Data Analytics

Work Experience

Viral Hepatitis Program Manager

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

October 2019 - Present

Director, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

October 2012 - September 2017

Senior Epidemiologist

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

July 2008 - September 2012

Scientific Editor

Peerwith B.V.; Editage; Compuscript Ltd.

June 2006 - July 2008

Scientific Editor

Write Science Right

June 2006 - July 2008

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

University of Pennsylvania

September 2003 - January 2006

Education

MPH in Epidemiology

Drexel School of Public Health

September 2006 - June 2008

PhD | Immunology

University of Pennsylvania

September 1997 - August 2003

BA | Biology

Willamette University

September 1993 - June 1997

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Johnson J, Pizzicato L, Johnson C, Viner K(2021). Increasing presence of xylazine in heroin and/or fentanyl deaths, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010-2019 . Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention.

Khatri UG, Pizzicato LN, Viner K, Bobyock E, Sun M, Meisel ZF, South EC(2021). Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Unintentional Fatal and Nonfatal Emergency Medical Services-Attended Opioid Overdoses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Philadelphia . JAMA network open.

Pizzicato LN, Hom JK, Sun M, Johnson CC, Viner KM(2020). Adherence to buprenorphine: An analysis of prescription drug monitoring program data . Drug and alcohol dependence.

Figgatt M, Hildick-Smith J, Addish E, Coleman J, Benitez J, Freeland C, Alles S, Viner K, Johnson C, Kuncio D(2020). Susceptibility to Hepatitis A and B Virus Among Clients at a Syringe Services Program in Philadelphia, 2018 . Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974).

Borschmann R, Tibble H, Spittal MJ, Preen D, Pirkis J, Larney S, Rosen DL, Young JT, Love AD, Altice FL, et al.(2020). The Mortality After Release from Incarceration Consortium (MARIC): Protocol for a multi-national, individual participant data meta-analysis . International journal of population data science.

Addish E, Zellman H, Kostman J, Viner K, Kuncio D, Trooskin S(2019). 316. Hepatitis C and Engagement in Health Care Among Persons Who Inject Drugs and Persons Who Use Non-Injection Drugs, Philadelphia . Open forum infectious diseases.

Pizzicato LN, Johnson CC, Viner KM(2019). Correlates of experiencing and witnessing non-fatal opioid overdoses among individuals accessing harm reduction services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . Substance abuse.

Khatri UG, Viner K, Perrone J(2018). Lethal Fentanyl and Cocaine Intoxication . The New England journal of medicine.

Pizzicato LN, Drake R, Domer-Shank R, Johnson CC, Viner KM(2018). Beyond the walls: Risk factors for overdose mortality following release from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons . Drug and alcohol dependence.

Pizzicato L, Johnson C, Viner K(2018). Leveraging City Data to Understand the Opioid Epidemic in Philadelphia . Online journal of public health informatics.

Higgins DC, Kuncio DE, Johnson CC, Viner KM(2017). Influence of birth origin and risk factor profile on hepatitis B mortality: Philadelphia, PA 2003-2013 . Annals of epidemiology.

Kuncio DE, Newbern EC, Ma L, Madera R, Barlow B, Robison SG, Viner KM, Johnson CC(2017). Capture-Recapture: Using Existing Data Sources to Improve Perinatal Hepatitis B Surveillance, Philadelphia, 2008-2014 . Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974).

Coyle C, Kwakwa H, Viner K(2016). Integrating Routine HCV Testing in Primary Care: Lessons Learned from Five Federally Qualified Health Centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012-2014 . Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974).

Perella D, Wang C, Civen R, Viner K, Kuguru K, Daskalaki I, Schmid DS, Lopez AS, Tseng HF, Newbern EC, et al.(2016). Varicella Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Community Transmission in the 2-Dose Era . Pediatrics.

Hom JK, Witt C, Johnson CC, Viner K(2015). Demographic, risk factor, and provider characteristics associated with confirmatory hepatitis C testing . Annals of epidemiology.

Coyle C, Viner K, Hughes E, Kwakwa H, Zibbell JE, Vellozzi C, Holtzman D, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(2015). Identification and Linkage to Care of HCV-Infected Persons in Five Health Centers - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012-2014 . MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report.

Kuncio DE, Newbern EC, Fernandez-Viña MH, Herdman B, Johnson CC, Viner KM(2015). Comparison of risk-based hepatitis C screening and the true seroprevalence in an urban prison system . Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine.

Viner K, Kuncio D, Newbern EC, Johnson CC(2015). The continuum of hepatitis C testing and care . Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.).

Kuncio D, Hueber A, Viner K, Newbern C(2014). 1147Factors Associated with Spontaneous Resolution of HCV Infection in Untreated Individuals, Philadelphia . Open forum infectious diseases.

Kuncio D, Viner K, Newbern C(2014). 1001Success of Perinatal Hepatitis C Testing: Philadelphia, 2011 - 2013 . Open forum infectious diseases.

Daskalaki I, Thermitus R, Perella D, Viner K, Spells N, Mohanty S, Lopez A, Johnson C(2014). Varicella outbreak in a daycare: challenges and opportunities for preventing varicella outbreaks in this setting . The Pediatric infectious disease journal.

Viner K, Perella D, Lopez A, Bialek S, Nguyen M, Spells N, Watson B(2014). Comparing active and passive varicella surveillance in Philadelphia, 2005-2010: recommendations for the transition to nationwide passive varicella disease surveillance . Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974).

Bialek SR, Perella D, Zhang J, Mascola L, Viner K, Jackson C, Lopez AS, Watson B, Civen R(2013). Impact of a routine two-dose varicella vaccination program on varicella epidemiology . Pediatrics.

Daskalaki I, Viner KM, Perella D, Newbern EC, Johnson CC, Watson BM(2012). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices for diagnosing breakthrough varicella in the outpatient setting . Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974).

Viner K, Perella D, Lopez A, Bialek S, Newbern C, Pierre R, Spells N, Watson B(2012). Transmission of varicella zoster virus from individuals with herpes zoster or varicella in school and day care settings . The Journal of infectious diseases.

Watson B, Viner K(2011). How the immune response to vaccines is created, maintained and measured: addressing patient questions about vaccination . Primary care.

Girgis NM, Dehaven BC, Xiao Y, Alexander E, Viner KM, Isaacs SN(2010). The Vaccinia virus complement control protein modulates adaptive immune responses during infection . Journal of virology.

Girgis NM, Dehaven BC, Fan X, Viner KM, Shamim M, Isaacs SN(2008). Cell surface expression of the vaccinia virus complement control protein is mediated by interaction with the viral A56 protein and protects infected cells from complement attack . Journal of virology.

Davis SL, Perri MB, Donabedian SM, Manierski C, Singh A, Vager D, Haque NZ, Speirs K, Muder RR, Robinson-Dunn B, et al.(2007). Epidemiology and outcomes of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection . Journal of clinical microbiology.

Viner KM, Girgis N, Kwak H, Isaacs SN(2006). B5-deficient vaccinia virus as a vaccine vector for the expression of a foreign antigen in vaccinia immune animals . Virology.

Viner KM, Isaacs SN(2005). Activity of vaccinia virus-neutralizing antibody in the sera of smallpox vaccinees . Microbes and infection.

Kwak H, Mustafa W, Speirs K, Abdool AJ, Paterson Y, Isaacs SN(2004). Improved protection conferred by vaccination with a recombinant vaccinia virus that incorporates a foreign antigen into the extracellular enveloped virion . Virology.

Speirs K, Lieberman L, Caamano J, Hunter CA, Scott P(2004). Cutting edge: NF-kappa B2 is a negative regulator of dendritic cell function . Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).

Kobayashi T, Walsh PT, Walsh MC, Speirs KM, Chiffoleau E, King CG, Hancock WW, Caamano JH, Hunter CA, Scott P, et al.(2003). TRAF6 is a critical factor for dendritic cell maturation and development . Immunity.

Artis D, Speirs K, Joyce K, Goldschmidt M, Caamaño J, Hunter CA, Scott P(2003). NF-kappa B1 is required for optimal CD4+ Th1 cell development and resistance to Leishmania major . Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).

Artis D, Shapira S, Mason N, Speirs KM, Goldschmidt M, Caamaño J, Liou HC, Hunter CA, Scott P(2002). Differential requirement for NF-kappa B family members in control of helminth infection and intestinal inflammation . Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).

Speirs K, Caamano J, Goldschmidt MH, Hunter CA, Scott P(2002). NF-kappa B2 is required for optimal CD40-induced IL-12 production but dispensable for Th1 cell Differentiation . Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).

Shapira S, Speirs K, Gerstein A, Caamano J, Hunter CA(2002). Suppression of NF-kappaB activation by infection with Toxoplasma gondii . The Journal of infectious diseases.

Caamaño J, Tato C, Cai G, Villegas EN, Speirs K, Craig L, Alexander J, Hunter CA(2000). Identification of a role for NF-kappa B2 in the regulation of apoptosis and in maintenance of T cell-mediated immunity to Toxoplasma gondii . Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).