This is an advanced specialized professional medical position that provides pathology assistance to the Chief Medical Examiner. The Associate Chief Medical Examiner performs medico-legal examinations (up to approximately 250 per year) and/or reviews non-central office medical examiner cases (at least 400 per year; number is dependent on Pathologist’s autopsy case load), is responsible for the medicolegal interpretations of the findings and consults with local medical examiners. The employee may serve as a senior attending pathologist for autopsies performed by the Forensic Pathology Fellow, pathology residents, and medical students. S/he gives both individual and group instruction in Forensic Pathology to lay and professional audiences including law enforcement, medical students, physicians, and allied health professionals.
Medicolegal Autopsy Examinations
The physician employee may perform approximately 200-250 medicolegal autopsies per year and prepares a final written autopsy report of the findings based on the autopsy examination itself, review of the histologic slides and toxicology results, consultation with law enforcement officials, and/or a review of the decedent’s medical records. S/he is responsible for the final certification of cause and manner of death in these autopsy cases. The autopsy findings and interpretation are discussed with family members, other physicians, law enforcement agents and attorneys. In addition, the Associate Chief Medical Examiner may consult with medical examiners, pathologists, law enforcement personnel, and the media on the interpretation and significance of findings and laboratory test results.
Case Review and Quality Control
This individual is assigned a set of North Carolina counties (number dependent on autopsy case load). S/he is responsible for reviewing the investigation/autopsy reports submitted by the local medical examiners and regional pathologists to assure that the reports are complete, accurate, and consistent before they become official public records. The Associate Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for final death certification on these cases.
Minimum Requirements:
- Extensive knowledge of principles, practices, literature, and current developments in the fields of pathological anatomy and forensic pathology.
- Extensive knowledge of theoretical principles of the biological sciences including biochemistry, toxicology, anatomy, physiology, microscopy, and pharmacology.
- Extensive knowledge of the diversified specialized equipment, instruments, and materials required in all phases of pathology.
- Knowledge of laboratory protocol, procedure, and techniques associated with medicolegal investigative work.
- Thorough knowledge of legal medicine and ability to make medicolegal interpretations; ability to organize and implement a medical examiner program.
- Ability to work effectively with professional and lay persons in promoting and carrying out his/her duties.
Management Preferences:- Must be board certified or board eligible in anatomical pathology and forensic pathology.
- Must have graduated from an accredited school of medicine with the degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy and eligible to obtain a license to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina.
- Must be board eligible/certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology and board eligible/certified in Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
Physical Requirements:- Must be able to stand for long periods of time; use upper body strength to conduct dissections on human remains.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence. Pre-Employment criminal background checks are required for some positions.
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