Atlas Scagnelli

Atlas Scagnelli is a data analyst for the New Jersey Department of Health, supporting two CDC‑funded injury and overdose surveillance programs: the National Violent Death Reporting System and the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System. In this role, they oversee data abstraction workflows, monitor progress toward CDC deliverables, and ensure the accuracy and consistency of violent death and overdose data collected across the state. Their work includes providing technical guidance on variable interpretation and case definitions, developing automated quality‑control tools, and conducting data linkages that increase the analytic value of mortality records. By staying closely engaged with surveillance data, Scagnelli identifies emerging trends and supports partners across violence and overdose prevention in using high‑quality, timely data to inform public health action.

The New Jersey Department of Health is committed to improving the well-being and quality of life of all residents in the state by providing essential public health services and implementing comprehensive strategies that promote community health. Within the department, the Center for Health Statistics serves as the primary resource for public health informatics on vital events such as births, deaths, and marriages, along with information on self‑reported health behaviors, injuries, violence, and other health‑related statistics. These data are used for public health surveillance, planning, and policy formulation by state and local agencies, healthcare planners, legislators, the media, and the public, and the unit also serves as the central repository for health‑related data that can be used by public health researchers.