Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy with a degree of Doctor of
Medicine or Osteopathy
Board certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic
and Clinical Pathology; or a minimum of 5 years of experience in forensic pathology
Board certification by the American Board of Pathology in Forensic Pathology entitles the
successful applicant to a salary increase (see “Compensation” below).
Current trainees in forensic pathology fellowships are encouraged to apply (note: applicants
who are current trainees still must meet the above certification requirements).
A Pennsylvania medical license is not necessary at the time of application; however,
possession of a valid Pennsylvania medical license is required prior to appointment.
Housed in newly built facilities, the PMEO handles approximately 1600 autopsies per year. The PMEO has an in-house toxicology laboratory and ready access to consultants in neuropathology, pediatric pathology, anthropology, radiology, and odontology.
Job duties include:
• Reviewing reports of deaths received from hospitals, private physicians, and police and determining jurisdiction of cases
• Determining the need and extent of postmortem examination
• Directing the activities of autopsy technicians in preparing bodies for autopsy
• Performing autopsies and obtaining specimens for laboratory analysis
• Examining wounds on decedents
• Directing the photographing of the body prior to, during and subsequent to the postmortem examination
• Making microscopic examinations of specimens
• Determining the cause and manner of death
• Preparing reports of findings
• Reviewing current literature in the field as necessary to assist in formulating decisions
• Testifying in court as an expert witness
Pathologists in our office do not routinely respond to death scenes but may do so in very unusual cases.