Assistant Medical Examiner

County of Santa Clara•San Jose, CA

10d

About The Position

The Office of the Medical Examiner is hiring a part-time Assistant Medical Examiner to perform medical activities and, under general direction, help plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the office’s medical activities. The role is based in a fully accredited National Association of Medical Examiners office with a modern facility, digital radiology, autopsy stations, access to Stanford’s Department of Pathology, and academic and teaching opportunities. The Assistant Medical Examiner performs and certifies autopsies, determines causes and manners of death, directs autopsy-suite activities, and supports the education of students, residents, fellows, and other visitors. The position also involves collaboration with medical and investigative staff and the District Attorney, producing official reports, serving as an expert witness, and providing on-call support. The employee may also respond to death scenes, serve on County Death Review Committees, and handle tissue and organ donation consent decisions when appropriate.

Requirements

Doctor of Medicine degree from an approved school of medicine.
Valid California Physicians and Surgeons license, maintained for the duration of employment.
Forensic pathology qualification through one of the following: American Board of Pathology board certification in Forensic Pathology; completion of an ACGME-accredited forensic pathology training program or international equivalent; or official qualification for examination in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
Candidates officially qualified for examination by the American Board of Pathology must successfully complete board certification within two years of appointment or may be released from the position; certification must be maintained once obtained.
Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work.
If driving, valid California driver’s license before appointment and ability to qualify for and maintain County driver authorization.
Knowledge of pathology principles and techniques; specialized pathology equipment and instruments; legal implications of facts obtained during autopsies and field investigations; English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling; and common computer systems and applications.
Ability to apply pathology principles and techniques and use specialized pathology equipment and instruments.
Ability to plan and direct the work of others.
Ability to express facts clearly orally and in writing.
Ability to qualify as an expert witness and testify effectively in civil depositions, preliminary hearings, and jury trials.
Ability to communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.
Ability to use computer systems and applications.
Availability to work on call 24 hours a day, including weekends, holidays, and irregular hours.
As a County employee designated a Disaster Service Worker, complete assigned DSW-related training and return to work as ordered in an emergency.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for a valid board certificate in Forensic Pathology issued by the American Board of Pathology.

Responsibilities

Perform autopsies to determine cause and manner of death and certify the findings.
Plan, organize, and direct the activities of the Autopsy Suite.
Supervise autopsy-suite staff and instruct residents, students, visitors, and interns.
Assist the Lead Forensic Pathologist and/or Chief Medical Examiner in establishing autopsy standards and maintaining chain of custody.
Personally perform autopsies on homicides and other violent or unnatural deaths.
Interpret medical records and police reports.
Confer with medical and investigative staff to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
Confer with the District Attorney regarding prosecution details.
Serve as an expert medical witness.
Provide 24/7 on-call support when on call.
May report to selected death scenes with the Medical Examiner Investigator.
Produce official autopsy reports and other records.
Provide education and training to rotating students, residents, and fellows.
Serve on one or more County Death Review Committees.
Provide or deny consent for tissue and organ donation in appropriate cases within the Office of the Medical Examiner’s jurisdiction.
May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker and perform other related duties as required.
Complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and return to work as ordered during an emergency.
Travel to alternate locations in the course of work.