Each forensic pathology fellow receives hands-on training by completing 200-250 autopsies per year. In addition, fellows work onsite at forensic scenes to provide analysis.
Upon completion of the program, fellows will be able to perform a competent medicolegal investigation from start to finish on cases including:
- Homicide
- Suicide
- Accident
- Natural cause
Fellows will also be able to conduct the professional and administrative operations required of a forensic pathologist and medical examiner.
In addition to training in the autopsy suite, the forensic fellow will receive instruction through online modules covering other forensic science branches. The fellow will also have opportunities to work with consultants in anthropology and odontology. The structure of the program is to provide fellows with real life experience.
Conferences and Didactics
The forensic fellow will attend regular weekly conferences in which recent cases are reviewed. In-hospital deaths that are medical examiner cases are presented at the trauma conference. Fellows will present a lecture at the annual medicolegal death investigation seminar, attended by local medical examiners, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Fellows will also attend (at department expense) the annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and are expected to author or co-author at least one paper.
Weekly didactic conferences enrich the fellow’s education, including photographic images of autopsy cases, discussion of the day’s cases at morning report, a monthly difficult case conference, and access to abundant up-to-date resources in the medical school’s library and from a dedicated electronic library.