Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention
12 Corporate Square Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Phone: 404.639.8252

Fax: 404.639.8573

REFERENCE REQUEST FOR APPLICANTS

Applicant Name: Andrea Patricia Villalobos Rodriguez
Your name has been given as a reference by the individual identified above who has
applied for a position with the STOP Transmission of Polio (STOP) Program at the CDC.
Position:

STOP Field Epidemiology Consultant.

Job Description:
STOP participants serve as short-term WHO/UNICEF consultants working at the district
and local levels through partnerships with the Ministries of Health. Team members are
assigned to work with national counterparts and participate in activities to support any of
the following:

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and measles case based surveillance

Supplemental Immunization Activities, e.g., national immunizations days (NIDs),
measles catch-up campaigns
Measles mortality reduction activities
Routine immunization initiatives
Integrated disease surveillance

We would appreciate your frank and objective consideration with regard to the
aforementioned candidate. To help us determine whether this person is both technically
capable as well as of good character, we ask that you answer all the questions on this
form as fully and specifically as possible. The promptness of your reply will aid us greatly
in our evaluation of this applicant. Please understand that your feedback to us will be
held with complete confidentiality.
Hermence Matsotsa
STOP Team PHA
Period of Association with Applicant: 8 Years 2 Months
Relationship to Applicant:

Current Supervisor
Former Supervisor
Colleague
Friend Relative Professional Mentor

Educational Mentor
Other_____________________

Updated 02/25/13

Using the following scale, please rate the applicant for each item:
5: Outstanding 4: better than average 3: Average 2: below average 1: No judgement
EVALUATION OF APPLICANT

Productivity/Quality of work
Ability to work under pressure
Dependability in carrying out assignments
Application of technical skills
Capacity for development (improve on skills
and techniques)
Work attendance
Initiative
Flexibility Adaptability
Originality Creativity
Judgement
Ability to communicate spoken
Ability to Communicate - written
Supervisory ability
Ability to solve problems - Resourcefulness
Time management
The applicant acknowledges his/her own
limitations
Initiative to assume challenges
Diplomacy Skills
How would you rate his/her overall
professional competence?

X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Yes

Did the applicant behave in an ethical and moral manner while in your
organisation?

Were the applicants behaviour patterns acceptable and did they

conform to high standards of professional conduct?

No

STOP assignments may be carried out in remote or isolated areas. Often STOP
Consultants endure extreme hardship due to the demands of the job, having to cope
with the environment and working in a culture and system not familiar to them.
Typically, those who fare best are adaptable, flexible and resilient. In your opinion, do
you think the applicant is the type of person you would expect to cope well with this
type of demanding environment? Please explain:
Andrea is a dynamic, extroverted, responsible and engaged person; these qualities
will allow her to cope with fieldwork adversity which she is applying now. During her
work at the INS have had different positions and areas, showing great adaptability,
flexibility and commitment to each one. She can develop the activities that will be
assigned without difficult because her experience is very important.
Please state briefly what you believe to be the applicants greatest strengths,
weaknessesor professional challenges.(Please comment on both strengths and
weaknesses.)
Compromised, creative, dynamic, responsible and persistent person. She can
develop any project that you assignee her. Is an intelligent person and great human
being. She has contributed many ideas than in this moment are scientific basis for
the community and for our country.

Updated 02/25/13

Consultants work in programs that are unstructured and require a great deal of
individual initiative, energy and enthusiasm. How well can the applicant perform with
little or no supervision?
Andrea is a recursive professional with initiative and creativity, one clear example is
her leadership in the design and implementation of the national study (pilot trial)
surveillance of healthcare associated infections, bacterial and antibiotic resistance; in
this work Andrea proved to be a proactive and committed person. If she has doubts
or some questions, I'm sure that she will look for the necessary support.
STOP Consultants tend to work in difficult political and cultural conditions. Please
speak to the applicants ability to be diplomatic and culturally sensitive and please
give examples where possible.
As she has supported epidemiologist situations of interest in public health, she has
had to interact, work and train vulnerable communities, professional health,
technicians at local, departmental and national levels, community leaders. Andrea has
represented the INS in national and international events, has led consensus
processes and teamwork with representatives from academia, scientific societies,
research groups and government representatives.
Would you hire the applicant if you had an opening in your organization?
Yes. Andrea is linked to INS from 8 years ago
Are there any other comments we should consider in making a hiring decision with
respect to the abovementioned candidate?
As previously mentioned I think Andrea is a suitable and competent person for the
position to which she is applying
Name: Oscar Eduardo Pacheco Garcia
Telephone 1: 311 270 0065
Telephone 2:
Title: Public Health Surveillance Director
Company/Organization: Instituto Nacional de Salud. Colombia
Date: September 1st - 2014
Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly complete this recommendation form. The
STOP Programs ability to provide highly skilled, productive and diplomatic candidates to
country program offices depends largely on cooperation from individuals such as
yourself. Your input and honest appraisal is greatly appreciated.

Updated 02/25/13