DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER - Medical Examiner

Tarrant County College; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans (medical/dental/vision)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Life and disability insurance

Retirement benefits (TCDRS)

Job summary

Tarrant County is seeking a Deputy Medical Examiner to aid the Medical Examiner’s Office in daily operations including autopsies, data interpretation, and sign-off on official documents. Responsibilities include court testimony and coordination with related agencies.

Position requires board certification within specified timelines and Texas medical license eligibility. The role emphasizes leadership, quality reports, and ongoing professional development within a dynamic forensic pathology team.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited medical college or university with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree.
• Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology preferred on hire; certification in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology required within two years of hire.
• Texas medical license eligibility within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Directs and conducts inquests to determine the cause and manner of death, oversees staff, and prepares reports.
• Authorizes external and complete autopsies, collects specimens, and requests analyses to support determinations.
• Testifies as an expert forensic witness in court; maintains relationships with agencies and departments.
• Maintains knowledge of medical advances, regulations, and leadership practices; coordinates education and residency programs.

Skills

Forensic pathology

Leadership

Court testimony

Analytical thinking

Microsoft Office

Education

MD/DO (Medical Doctor)

ABP in Pathology (Anatomic)

ABP in Forensic Pathology (required within 2 years)

Tools

None

Job description

Summary

The Deputy Medical Examiner will be responsible for assisting with the daily functions of the Medical Examiner’s Office including performing examinations and autopsies; analyzing and interpreting data; signing official documents; testifying in court proceedings; and performing all related duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises one or more employees in the Medical Examiner’s Office. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these employee(s). Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the county’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employee(s); planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME AFTER A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED

Benefits

Tarrant County employees enjoy superior health, retirement, & insurance benefits.

• group health plans for medical, dental, and vision coverage
• an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• life and long- term disability insurance
• flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care reimbursements
• The County also provides retirement benefits
• Full time employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and employees may also participate in a retirement savings program (Deferred Compensation).
• 13 paid holidays
• a Wellness Program

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Directs and conducts inquests to determine the cause and manner of death including the following: reviews investigation narrative to establish case jurisdiction and to make initial determination regarding the scope of inquest and case assignments; directs and provides oversight to the activities of the support staff assisting in inquest; performs external examinations, partial autopsies, and complete autopsies; collects specimens and evidentiary materials and requests appropriate analyses to assist with determination of cause and manner of death; prepares written reports regarding case findings including interpretation of specialized analyses; and issues death certificates.
• In preparing written reports, follows the approved department operating procedures and professional standards established by National Association of Medical Examiners. (NAME).
• Testifies in local, state, and federal court proceedings as an expert forensic witness.
• Maintains good working relationships with other agencies and county, state, and federal departments.
• Maintains a good working knowledge of medical skills and processes, advances in technology, best practices in industry standard, legislative initiatives, and regulations for activities in the work area as well as advanced leadership skills to direct the work unit.
• Interacts with families, physicians, law enforcement agents, funeral directors, and justices of peace regarding findings as needed.
• Maintains education and training programs including Morning Mortality Meeting, Critical Case Review, Journal Club, Child Fatality Review, and Current Trends in Forensic Science and professional conferences for work unit.
• Coordinates ACGME for the Forensic Fellowship Program and provides support to the Director of the resident rotations, medical student internships, college internships, and TCME Volunteer Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to stay organized and know how to prioritize the workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competency with computers and Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
• Advanced analytical skills.

Minimum Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited medical college or university with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree.
• Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology preferred upon hire.
• Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology required within two (2) years of hire.
• Recent graduates of forensic fellowship programs are required to have board certification in Anatomic Pathology and will be allowed one (1) year to obtain board certification in forensic pathology.
• During the period before obtaining board certification in Forensic Pathology, all casework performed shall be reviewed and approved by the Chief Medical Examiner.
• Must be eligible for and obtain a Texas medical license within thirty days of hire.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and the ability to articulate important information and concepts is required.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To be considered for this position, your application must be complete and clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications. Please ensure that all sections of the application are fully completed, including Education (specifying the type of degree, field of study, and graduation status), Experience, and Certifications/Licenses. Resumes alone will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will result in disqualification, as eligibility for minimum qualifications cannot be confirmed without full documentation. If selected for hire, you will be required to provide proof of educational attainment during the onboarding process.

Tarrant County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudication in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Physical Demands And Work Environment & Other Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent may be required to bend, hear, keyboard, sit, stand, talk, work alone and with others, and work overtime. Must be able to lift up to 25lbs.

Exposure to human and animal remains, forensic instruments, pathogens, chemical or biological hazards, blood, and other body fluids. There is routine exposure to decomposition with odorous specimens and graphic visual situations.

Decision Making

This position anticipates, identifies, and resolves major forensic problems in the absence of direct input from the Chief Medical Examiner. The incumbent is given managerial latitude in exercising judgment and discretion within statutory and regulatory authority and the department’s policies and procedures.

Tarrant County offers a full range of employee benefit programs for eligible employees, retirees, and their families. These programs include group health plans for medical, dental, and vision coverage; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); life and long- term disability insurance; and flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care reimbursements. The County also provides retirement benefits. Full time employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and employees may also participate in a retirement savings program (Deferred Compensation). In addition to these "basic employee benefits" and retirement services, employees benefit from a variety of other programs including 13 paid holidays, a Wellness Program, and more.

• Note: These benefits are for Tarrant County employees only. For benefit information regarding Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) employees, please contact Patrice Smith at [phone].