Associate Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathologist)

Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Decatur (GA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Loan repayment program

13 paid holidays

Retirement plan

Education leave

Job summary

The State Medical Examiner's Office, within the Division of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is seeking qualified applicants to fill the Associate Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathologist) position at GBI Headquarters in Decatur, Georgia.

The successful applicant will join a statewide system that conducts thousands of postmortem examinations annually, collaborates with law enforcement, and participates in court proceedings.

Qualifications

• Medical Doctor licensed to practice in Georgia or able to obtain licensure.
• Completed Anatomic Pathology residency and Forensic Pathology fellowship.
• Board certified or eligible for ABP certification in Forensic Pathology.

Responsibilities

• Perform medicolegal autopsies under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.
• Generate examination reports and provide expert courtroom testimony.
• Consult with law enforcement and attorneys; may perform other duties as directed.

Education

Medical Doctor license to practice in Georgia or ability to obtain licensure

Anatomic Pathology residency and Forensic Pathology fellowship

Board certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology OR Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology

Board certification or eligibility by the American Board of Pathology in Forensic Pathology

Job description

This is a sensitive government position.

Please review the GBI Employment Disqualifiers before applying for this position. Employment for the selected candidate(s) is contingent upon the successful completion of a GBI background investigation including criminal, credit and driver's history checks, polygraph examination, fingerprinting and drug screening.

The GBI follows the Federal statute regarding illegal drug use and is a drug-free workplace. Although some states have legalized recreational drug use, applicants who currently use illegal drugs or controlled substances will be subject to disqualification from employment with the GBI.

Associate Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathologist) Position

The State Medical Examiner's Office, within the Division of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is seeking qualified applicants to fill the Associate Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathologist) position at GBI Headquarters in Decatur, Georgia.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®).

The successful applicant will join a system that encompasses two regional medical examiner offices located in Pooler (Savannah) and Dry Branch (Macon), Georgia, in addition to the headquarters facility, located in Decatur, Georgia [Atlanta]. Collectively, these three offices provide complete forensic pathology services to 154 of the 159 counties in Georgia. The Decatur facility handles approximately 2,700 postmortem examinations per year, including about 400 to 475 homicides.

The Decatur medical examiner's staff currently consists of one (1) chief medical examiner, one (1) deputy chief medical examiner, nine (9) associate medical examiners, eighteen (18) death investigation specialists, one (1) graphic & visual art specialist, and five (5) office support staff. The average caseload per pathologist is between 250-300 cases per year.

The State Medical Examiner's Office has a total of 19 medical examiners throughout the state, when fully staffed, including two (2) board-certified pediatric pathologist staffed at headquarters. This office also operates the Child Abuse Investigative Support Center, which provides consultative services to law enforcement, district attorneys, the Division of Family and Children's Services, and other agencies, where inflicted injury is suspected in living children.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Associate Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathologist) performs medicolegal autopsies under the provisions of the Georgia Death Investigation Act; generates examination reports for dissemination in a timely and efficient manner; provides expert courtroom and deposition testimony in judicial proceedings; and consults with law enforcement agencies and attorneys who work within the criminal system. The Associate Medical Examiner may perform other duties as directed by the Chief Medical Examiner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Medical Doctor licensed to practice medicine in the state of Georgia or the ability to obtain Georgia licensure as required by state law
• Successful completion of an Anatomic Pathology residency and Forensic Pathology fellowship from an accredited institution
• Board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology OR Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology.
• Board certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Pathology in Forensic Pathology.

CONDITION(S) OF EMPLOYMENT

Selected candidates who have not yet achieved board certification in Forensic Pathology must sit for and successfully pass the board certification examination in Forensic Pathology at the earliest available administration upon becoming eligible. Failure to sit for and/or successfully pass the Forensic Pathology Board exam will result in an evaluation of continued employment. Selected candidate must be able to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business which may require working weekends and/or holidays. Selected candidate must also be available to receive and respond to telephone inquiries from home, while acting in an on‑call status.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for the position is $260,000-$280,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Advancement within the salary structure is commensurate with cumulative experience and achievement of full board certification for those who are hired but not yet fully board certified.

*From date of completion of Forensic Pathology Fellowship through the 5th full year of postgraduate employment, w/o board certification, the salary will be: $260,000.00 per year.

*From date of completion of Forensic Pathology Fellowship through the 5th full year of postgraduate employment, with AP & FP board certification, the salary will be: $270,000.00 per year.

*From the beginning of the 6th postgraduate year forward, w/AP & FP board certification, the salary will be: $280,000.00 per year.

Advancement within the salary structure is commensurate with cumulative experience, and achievement of full Board Certification status for those who are hired but are not yet fully Board Certified.

NEW - GEORGIA MEDICAL EXAMINER LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Georgia Medical Examiner Loan Repayment Program is now available to qualified licensed physicians working as full‑time Medical Examiners with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation! Recipients must agree to work full‑time, on or after January 1, 2023, for GBI as a Medical Examiner for an opportunity to have a portion of their student loan debt to be paid through this loan repayment program. Loan repayment begins after twelve consecutive months of qualified employment.

• First year maximum amount is $12,000
• Second year maximum amount is $18,000
• Third year maximum amount is $24,000
• Fourth year maximum amount is $30,000
• Fifth year maximum amount is $36,000

The maximum limit is $120,000 with five years of qualifying employment.

GBI offers a generous benefits package. Employees earn vacation time and sick leave and are granted 13 paid holidays each year. There are a variety of benefit options to choose from, including vision, dental, health and life insurance. We also offer an employee retirement plan and deferred compensation options.

Competitive benefits package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Annual vacation, sick, and education leave
• 13 paid holidays
• Employee retirement plan
• Deferred compensation options
• Conference allowance
• Reimbursement of all GA licensure and board certification fees
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer
• Georgia Medical Examiner Loan Repayment Program

The GBI reserves the right to close this job announcement once a qualified applicant pool has been identified.

• Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or by e‑mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Applicants who are not selected for an interview will not receive notification.
• The GBI follows the Federal statute regarding illegal drug use and is a drug‑free workplace. Although some states have legalized recreational drug use, applicants who currently use illegal drugs or controlled substances will be subject to disqualification from employment with the GBI
• Applicants must present a professional image during all phases of the GBI hiring process, to include when interviewing, either in‑person or virtually. The attire and appearance of applicants interviewing must be what is generally accepted as both professional and appropriate for a business work environment.
• Foreign Education: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is equivalent to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. This evaluation must be a course‑by‑course evaluation that includes each completed course/subject and the U.S. credit equivalent. Applicants must submit a copy of the credential evaluation as part of the application process. For a listing of services that can perform this evaluation, see the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services website at http://www.naces.org/members.htm

THE GBI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER