BJA FY 23 Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program - King County Medical Examiner's Office

King County Medical Examiner's Office (KCMEO) proposes to strengthen the medical examiner-coroner system by funding a second position in the forensic pathology fellowship training program in Seattle, Washington. The forensic pathology fellowship program of KCMEO has trained more than 32 forensic pathologists since 1980 who practice or have practiced in cities throughout the United States. KCMEO has been accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) since 1978, the longest continuously accredited U.S. office. With its forensic pathology fellowship program affiliated with University of Washington School of Medicine and Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratories and integrated within Public Health in Seattle and King County, KCMEO has a unique, highly qualified, and proven successful training program in preparing professionals for a career in forensic pathology.

Currently the KCMEO fellowship program is accredited by ACGME to offer two fellowship positions but is funded by King County for only one; filling the second position depends on BJA funding. Since 2019, KCMEO has trained and graduated seven forensic pathologists, three of whom were trained using federal funding. Furthermore, of the four fellows committed to the 2023 and 2024 forensic pathology fellowship training program, two are funded by BJA. The current proposal is to continue the same plan to recruit and train two forensic pathology fellows to graduate in 2026 using BJA funding for the second position.