Assistant Medical Examiner

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, TX seeks an Assistant Medical Examiner to conduct medicolegal death investigations, including autopsies and external examinations, and to provide testimony in court. The role includes supervising residents and teaching trainees in autopsy procedures, as well as participating in quality assurance and administration.

The position requires medical licensure in Texas and board certification in pathology, with duties spanning case review,

Qualifications

• MD/DO/MBBS or equivalent medical degree.
• Texas medical licensure by employment date.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medicolegal death investigations under Texas law, including autopsies and external examinations.
• Collect and interpret histologic, toxicologic, and physical evidence; draft autopsy reports and sign death certificates timely.
• Provide expert testimony in criminal and civil cases as required.
• Mentor trainees and supervise residents and students in autopsy performance and related activities.
• Participate in quality assurance activities and department administration.

Skills

Forensic pathology

Court testimony

Autopsy performance

Communication

Time management

Education

MD/DO/MBBS

Job description

Mission

The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiner and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.

Vision

• To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.

• To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.

• To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.

Brief Assistant Medical Examiner Overview

The Assistant Medical Examiner conducts medicolegal death investigations pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 49.25, including external examination of decedents as well as complete and partial autopsies, with appropriate evidence collection; provides testimonial evidence in court regarding medicolegal death investigations and evidence collected from bodies; and teaches trainees (forensic pathology fellows, pathology residents, medical residents, medical students, nursing students) about various aspects of medicolegal death investigation.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Conducts and completes medicolegal death investigations pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 49.25, including performing autopsies and external examinations of decedents; collecting histologic, toxicologic, and physical evidence; interpreting gross anatomic pathology and microscopic pathology; interpreting toxicologic results; reviewing and synthesizing of medical records and police reports; crafting timely and thorough autopsy reports; and signing death certificates on a timely basis
• Provides expert testimony in criminal and civil court matters relating to medicolegal death investigations (including substitute testimony for other Assistant Medical Examiners who may not be available for testimony); prepares for testimony by attending depositions and pretrial conferences with prosecutor, plaintiff, and defense attorneys as needed
• Participates in ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement activities within the Pathology Division, including regular attendance at daily case assignment and review conferences, and weekly quality assurance and consensus conferences
• Is fully engaged in teaching activities at the Department including mentoring forensic pathology fellows, supervising medical residents, and providing guidance to medical students, nursing students, and other trainees, including providing direct supervision and instruction in autopsy performance as well as providing instructional presentations and lectures
• Participates in administrative aspects of the medical examiner operation, including weekly administrative meetings, and performing other tasks as required (participation in regular review / revision of standard operating procedures, participation in various accreditation preparation activities)
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are requested of the employee for this position.
• Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

• Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

Education

• Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

Licensure

• Licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas by the date of employment

• Certification by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic pathology by the date of employment

• Maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Additional Requirements

• Must pass criminal background check and drug / alcohol screening (prior to and randomly after employment)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expertise in forensic pathology, general anatomic pathology, and broad foundational knowledge of other medical and surgical specialties

• Ability to communicate effectively with lay, technical, medical, and legal audiences; ability to provide empathetic consultation with family members of decedents, dictate autopsy findings, edit autopsy reports, and provide testimony as required in civil and criminal proceedings

• Must be able to calmly, effectively, and convincingly express complex analytical conclusions and medical decisions in adversarial situations

• Excellent time management skills, strategies, and abilities; ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously

• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Location

• Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences - 1861 Old Spanish Trail Houston, TX 77054

Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work

• Full time; Monday-Friday, plus weekend and holiday rotation.

• Consistently requires > 40 hours per week

• Hours may vary based on needs of Department

• Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies if necessary

Work Environment

• Morgue / office setting

• Routine exposure to deaths of adults and children that resulted from violence, natural disease, environmental hazards, and toxins

• Will be exposed to biohazardouses materials and offensive odors

Physical Demands

• Medium work.

• Requires physical strength to push, pull, and lift up to 20 pounds frequently and repeatedly

• Must be physically able to stand for extended periods

• Must be able to effectively don and doff appropriate personal protective equipment (including N95 mask, gown, face protection, as well as self-contained breathing apparatus as required), and be able to wear personal protective gear for extended periods (hours) while conducting intricate postmortem examinations

Additional Information

• Reports To: Deputy Chief Medical Examiner

• FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.