Deputy Chief Medical Examiner

Brown County, WI; Green Bay (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown County Medical Examiner's Office in Wisconsin seeks an experienced Deputy Chief Medical Examiner to lead forensic death investigations, oversee autopsy services, and supervise staff across the regional system.

The role requires medical licensure in Wisconsin, board-eligibility or certification in Forensic Pathology, and at least five years in a leadership capacity; you will collaborate with county officials and law enforcement to ensure accuracy and defensibility of findings.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of medicine.
• Eligible for medical licensure in Wisconsin.
• Board-eligible or certified in Forensic Pathology; certification within 3 years if not already board certified.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent investigations of reportable deaths and perform postmortem examinations.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision of staff in forensic pathology and death investigations.
• Direct and maintain autopsy standards and quality assurance per NAME accreditation.
• Prepare thorough reports, certificates, and testimony for court proceedings as required.
• Assist in policy development, quality improvement, and operational planning for the Medical Examiner's Office.

Education

MD/DO degree

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for independent investigation of reportable deaths; for performing postmortem examinations; case evaluations/disposition decisions; participates in death investigations and scene response; provides clinical consultation and leadership to physicians, investigators, and support personnel; serves as a regional Deputy Chief Medical Examiner under intergovernmental cooperation agreements with Brown County; collaborate with the Chief Medical Examiner and Director of Operations to ensure operational standards and legal obligations are met; and occasionally performs other duties as required in exceptional circumstances. The Deputy Chief Medical Examiner serves as Acting Chief Medical Examiner when the Chief is unavailable.
• The Deputy Chief Medical Examiner may exercise delegated authority from the Chief Medical Examiner in matters of clinical practice, case management, personnel supervision, policy development, quality assurance, accreditation, and daily operations.
• Directs and performs between 200 and 225 timely NAME autopsy equivalents per year in accordance with NAME autopsy performance standards.
• Performs postmortem examinations and ancillary examinations; reviews radiologic, toxicologic, histologic, investigative, and other relevant evidence; and formulates medically and scientifically supported opinions regarding cause and manner of death.
• Reviews and evaluates reported deaths and determines appropriate case disposition, including whether cases fall within Medical Examiner jurisdiction.
• Prepares complete, accurate, and timely autopsy and examination reports and other required medical and forensic documentation.
• Provide court testimony in criminal and civil cases as required.
• Participates in and assists the Chief Medical Examiner with quality assurance and quality improvement activities related to forensic pathology, death investigation, case management, documentation, and office operations.
• Assists in maintaining compliance with NAME accreditation standards and other applicable professional, statutory, regulatory, and institutional requirements.
• Participates in preparation for NAME inspections, accreditation reviews, and corrective-action activities.
• Assists in developing, implementing, and monitoring standard operating procedures and quality systems designed to promote consistent, accurate, timely, and defensible medicolegal death investigation services.
• Identifies opportunities to improve clinical quality, operational efficiency, employee safety, communication, and service delivery.
• Responds to out-of-hospital homicide, suspicious, unusual, or otherwise significant death scenes on a rotating basis and provides medical and forensic consultation to investigators and law enforcement personnel.
• Performs scientific comparison of materials for identification of decedents when appropriate.
• Completes or reviews death certificates, cremation permits, and other required certifications and authorizations in accordance with applicable law and office policy on a rotating basis.
• Reviews investigative reports for all reported cases on a rotating basis.
• Provides death investigation and staff supervision services on a 24 hour per day, 7 days per week rotating on-call basis.
• Assists the Chief Medical Examiner in the overall administration, management, and clinical oversight of the Medical Examiner's Office.
• Assists the Chief Medical Examiner and Director of Operations in establishing, implementing, reviewing, and updating office policies, procedures, protocols, and operational standards.
• Provides clinical leadership, consultation, and mentorship to forensic pathologists, medical staff, investigators, and other Medical Examiner's Office personnel.
• Provides or participates in supervision of assigned professional and support staff, including work planning, scheduling, training, performance feedback, and evaluation as delegated by the Chief Medical Examiner.
• Participates in physician recruitment, onboarding, credentialing, professional development, and retention activities.
• Assists in identifying and resolving clinical, operational, staffing, and workflow issues affecting the Medical Examiner's Office.
• Participates in management and strategic planning for the regional Medical Examiner system serving Brown County and participating partner counties.
• Represents the Medical Examiner's Office, as delegated by the Chief Medical Examiner, in meetings with county officials, law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, health care organizations, public health agencies, hospitals, funeral service providers, professional organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Maintains all required licenses and accreditations consistent with the industry standards. Maintains individual continuing medical education and assures compliance with licensing and certification requirements.
• Work effectively in a high-stress environment involving sudden, unexpected, traumatic, and potentially high-profile deaths.
• Ability to work the required hours of the position.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Community outreach and partner organization collaboration assignments on a voluntary basis as appropriate, case volumes permitting. Occasionally, unforeseen matters may require the performance of other duties as assigned.

Eligibility:

Graduation from an accredited school of medicine.

Candidates must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Wisconsin and must be board-eligible or certified in Forensic Pathology. Must achieve Forensic Pathology board certification within 3 years of hire if not already board certified.

At least five years of experience required for the role of Deputy Chief Medical Examiner.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board certification in both Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology.
• Prior supervisory, administrative, or leadership experience within a medical examiner, forensic pathology, pathology, academic, hospital, or governmental setting.
• Experience with NAME accreditation and quality assurance/quality improvement programs.
• Experience working within a regional or multi-jurisdictional Medical Examiner system.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, protocols, or quality systems.
• Experience providing education, training, and professional mentorship.
• Independently evaluate and interpret complex medical, forensic, investigative, toxicologic, radiologic, and scientific information.
• Determine or assist in determining cause and manner of death and appropriate case disposition based upon available evidence.
• Recognize and appropriately evaluate natural, traumatic, toxicologic, infectious, occupational, environmental, and other causes and circumstances of death.
• Identify circumstances requiring notification or coordination with law enforcement, public health, regulatory, or other governmental agencies.
• Exercise sound independent medical and forensic judgment while maintaining professional objectivity and statutory independence.
• Lead, supervise, mentor, and collaborate effectively with physicians, investigators, laboratory personnel, administrative staff, and other professionals.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, protocols, and quality systems.
• Apply NAME accreditation standards and accepted professional standards to clinical and operational activities.
• Communicate complex medical and forensic information clearly and effectively to courts, attorneys, law enforcement, health care professionals, government officials, families, employees, and members of the public.
• Provide credible and defensible expert testimony in legal proceedings.
• Manage competing clinical, investigative, administrative, and operational priorities in a timely and effective manner.