Forensic Pathology Fellow – Office of Medical Examiner

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

39d • $80,217 - $132,358 • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Medical Examiner (OME) within the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) investigates all violent, suspicious, and unexpected natural deaths in the City and County of Denver. The goal is to develop logical, scientific, and unbiased information to determine the cause and manner of death for accurate death certificates and autopsy reports. The agency also provides expert testimony, death scene response, deceased identification, and death notification services. The OME fosters an inclusive culture and implements equitable public health strategies. This position is for a Forensic Pathology Fellow for the 2028-2029 academic year, functioning as a Pathologist within the OME.

Requirements

• Possesses an MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
• Completion of ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) approved postgraduate residency program in anatomical pathology or anatomical pathology/clinical pathology by the date of the start of the fellowship term.
• Must be eligible for licensure in Colorado and board certified or board eligible in anatomic pathology or anatomic/clinical pathology by the date of the start of the fellowship term.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
• It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.
• Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

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.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Great benefits
• Endless opportunities
• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year
• 11 paid holidays
• 1 personal holiday
• 1 volunteer day per calendar year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective on the 1st of the month following the start date
• education/continuing education reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level