Data Analyst and Epidemiology Team

The Data Analyst and Epidemiology team consists of a group of talented data scientists and epidemiologists who support routine data abstraction and analysis activities for the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction. The Data Analyst and Epidemiology team often provides a framework and foundation for other programs within SUPHR to work from. The team collects, analyzes, and reports on data that can be used internally to aid program evaluation, policy development, and targeted intervention implementation. Through the creation and dissemination of routine communications, including presentations, surveillance reports, and peer-reviewed publications, the team works to inform and update policy creators, community members, partners in academia, and other stakeholders about the current substance use and drug overdose landscape in Philadelphia.

The Data Analyst and Epidemiology Team is also unique in that several positions sit across multiple city agencies, including the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services (DBHIDS). These positions help to further develop and foster the collaborative partnerships across city agencies that are integral to tackling the substance use and drug overdose crisis in our City.

Want to learn more?

The SUPHR epidemiology team creates and maintains data dashboards on a variety of topics related to substance use in Philadelphia.

Want additional information?

If you’re interested in data about a topic we don’t have on this site, visit the Philadelphia Department of Public Health website to learn how to make a data request.

Meet the Team

  • Dana Higgins, MPH

    EPIDEMIOLOGY MANAGER

    Dana (she/her) joined the SUPHR Data Analyst and Epidemiology team in October 2020. Having started her tenure at PDPH in 2015, Dana served as an Epidemiologist in other Divisions within PDPH, including the Division of HIV Health, and the Division of Disease Control’s (DDC) Viral Hepatitis Program. Dana received her master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from George Washington University, with a concentration in epidemiology and HIV studies. Dana is proud to bring her public health background and epidemiology skillset to the work that SUPHR does, helping to analyze data on substance use and contribute to overdose prevention efforts.

  • Aoife Andrews, MPH

    SUBSTANCE USE EPIDEMIOLOGIST II

    Aoife (she/her) is a proud member of the SUPHR Data Analyst and Epidemiology team. Aoife earned her master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from Boston University in 2019. After moving to Philadelphia in August of that year, she was overjoyed to find work at the PDPH. Beginning as a Data Analyst with SUPHR, she was able to hone her skills and focus on a passion of hers, epidemiology. Now a Substance Use Epidemiologist with SUPHR, Aoife hopes to contribute to the City of Philadelphia in its fight against overdose, stigma, and the War on Drugs.

  • Jewell Johnson, MPH

    SUBSTANCE USE EPIDEMIOLOGIST II

    In 2019, Jewell (she/her) joined SUPHR as a joint Substance Use Epidemiologist split between the PDPH and DBHIDS. Jewell received her master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2018. Jewell’s prior experience as an Injury Epidemiologist and Crisis Navigator has given her the skill set to monitor and identify trends in substance use here in Philadelphia. Jewell frequently analyzes data from numerous sources including, but not limited to, Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO), Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), and Community Behavioral Health (CBH).

  • Kayla Russell

    OVERDOSE DATA ANALYST

    Kayla (she/her) works with the Data Analysis and Epidemiology department as an Overdose Data Analyst. In her current role, Kayla collects data on drug overdose deaths in Philadelphia. Kayla uses this data to complete case reports as a part of the CDC’s SUDORS (State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System). This data is used to better understand the circumstances surrounding overdose deaths and inform solutions for prevention. Kayla previously worked in overdose prevention at Prevention Point Philadelphia and as a registered nurse. Kayla works to combine her previous hands-on experience with her current data work to understand the current drug landscape and work to achieve meaningful solutions.

  • Maya Puleo, MPH

    SUBSTANCE USE EPIDEMIOLOGIST

    Maya (she/her) joined the SUPHR Data Analyst and Epidemiology team in 2021. Maya received her master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a concentration in epidemiology and GIS. She has worked broadly in public health since 2016; previously working in community health and research roles focusing on improving health outcomes and achieving health equity. Her current work supports SUPHR by analyzing data on overdose trends in Philadelphia.

  • Natalie Ward, MPH

    EMS EPIDEMIOLOGIST

    Natalie (she/her) joined the SUPHR Data Analyst and Epidemiology team in 2023 as an EMS epidemiologist split between PDPH and the Philadelphia Fire Department Emergency Medical Services (PFD-EMS). In 2023, Natalie earned her master's degree in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. As part of her graduate course work, Natalie completed an internship at Prevention Point Pittsburgh, which sparked her interest in overdose prevention and harm reduction. Natalie is thrilled to use her background and skills to support the work of the SUPHR and the PFD-EMS AR-2 teams.