Forensic Pathology Fellowships in the King County Medical Examiner's Office

This proposal offers a plan to strengthen the medical examiner-coroner system by supporting a second forensic pathology fellowship position in the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) in Seattle, Washington. This plan addresses the national shortage of qualified and certified forensic pathologists to supply the needs of criminal justice and public health in the US. Forensic pathology is critical for the criminal justice system, not only for criminal investigation and prosecution, but also to protect the innocence of those wrongfully accused.

KCMEO is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners and is the longest continuously accredited office in the US. With its forensic pathology fellowship program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), affiliated with University of Washington School of Medicine and Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratories, and integrated within Public Health – 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. In 2018 KCMEO was successful in securing NIJ funding for a second position, which has been filled with a qualified trainee for 2019 - 2020. The goal of this year’s proposal is to continue the fellowship program to train and graduate two fellows yearly.

CA/NCF