Forensic Pathology Fellow – Office of Medical Examiner

City and County of Denver•Denver, CO

About The Position

About Our Job Employment Requirement: City Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021. All persons offered a position will be required to provide valid proof of vaccination prior to starting employment. Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE is Denver’s accredited local public health agency and works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to promote healthy people, healthy pets, and a sustainable environment. DDPHE oversees a number of services related to public health and the environment and is comprised of six divisions: the Division of Administration; Community & Behavioral Health; Public Health Investigations; Denver Animal Protection; the Office of Medical Examiner; and Environmental Quality. For more information on DDPHE’s programs and services, visit the DDPHE website at: http://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/environmental-health.html The Office of the Medical Examiner investigates all violent, suspicious and unexpected natural deaths that occur in the City and County of Denver. The goal of forensic investigation and autopsy is to develop logical, scientific, and unbiased information necessary to determine the cause and manner of death for the proper and accurate completion of the death certificate and autopsy report. The agency also offers death expert testimony/consultation, death scene response and investigation, and deceased identification and death notification. OME reports and other information can be found at: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Public-Health-Environment/Medical-Examiner The Office of the Medical Examiner has an opening for a Forensic Pathology Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year. This position will function as a Pathologist within the Office of the Medical Examiner for Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment.

Responsibilities

Reviews deaths reported to the Office of the Medical Examiner as required by Colorado Statute and determines which cases will require an autopsy or visual examination.
Performs medicolegal autopsies with appropriate supervision, in accordance with accepted standards in the recognized medical specialty of forensic pathology.
Orders and interprets necessary diagnostic tests to aid in the diagnosis of disease and non-natural pathology, understands the effects of postmortem interval on laboratory test results, and determines the cause and manner of death.
Shares on-call responsibilities with other staff physicians, responds to homicide or other suspicious death scenes as requested by the Medical Examiner investigator, and consults on the release of organs and tissue for recovery by procurement agencies.
Gives testimony as to the cause of death and renders expert opinions in a variety of legal forums, both criminal and civil.
Collects evidence and preserves it using accepted chain of custody procedures, documents findings at autopsy including pertinent traumatic injuries in the form of a written report, and photographs pertinent findings and traumatic injuries.
Consults with medical experts as necessary to aid in the determination of the cause of death.
Meets and/or confers with attorneys, law enforcement, and health professionals to discuss the autopsy findings and investigation.
Meets and/or speaks with families to discuss the results of the autopsy and the particulars of the death investigation and communicates with the media and other interested parties about the autopsy report.
Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents, interns, and others in the function of the Medical Examiner/Coroner and in forensic pathology.
Assists in the planning and participation of research activities that the office collaborates on.
Assists the Chief Medical Examiner in assessing the quality of services provided, helps ensure that staff and visitors conform with office and department safety policies at scenes and in the autopsy room, and assists in the development of office safety policies and in the development of office emergency preparedness plans.
Assists in the collaboration with local, regional, and state law enforcement, investigative, legal, and medical agencies including public health.
Performs other related duties as assigned.