FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST (PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST)
LA County Department of Medical Examiner
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
LA County Department of Medical Examiner seeks a Physician Specialist in Forensic Pathology to perform autopsy procedures, determine causes of death, and supervise residents and fellows in a demanding, technologically equipped environment.
Candidates must have completed a residency in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, a fellowship in Forensic Pathology, California license, and ABPath certification; board eligibility within the required timeframe is also considered.
Qualifications
- Completion of a residency in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.
- Fellowship in Forensic Pathology or equivalent ABPath‑approved training.
- California medical license and ABPath certification.
Responsibilities
- Performs autopsy procedures within Forensic Pathology and related duties.
- Directs and trains residents or fellows in the department.
- Consults with staff physicians on medical and diagnostic work.
- Certifies cause of death and may testify as expert witness in court.
- Develops new techniques and conducts relevant research.
Skills
Education
Job description
Open Competitive Job Opportunity
- research completed (e.g., studies, articles, publications)
Position/Program Information
3/8/2021 at 8:00 AM (PT)
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
P5476A-R
Open Competitive Job Opportunity
$20,968.42 - $28,112.58 monthly
Due to a critical shortage, appointees in the Pathology-Forensic specialty shall be compensated at Step 2, $21,596.82/monthly. Candidates who are board certified in Forensic Pathology will receive an additional bonus equivalent to 5.5% of base monthly salary.
Full time, permanent, physician employees are allowed ten (10) days or eighty (80) hours per calendar year for approved continuing education purposes.
Los Angeles County offers one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the nation which includes a Defined Benefit Retirement Plan, Deferred Compensation Plan, and a Cafeteria Benefit Plan where employees may elect medical coverage, dental coverage, group life insurance, AD&D insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, and long-term disability health insurance.
Incumbents in these positions are physicians licensed to render specialized professional medical services in Forensic Pathology.
Positions allocable to this class report to a Chief Physician and provide specialized medical services which requires completion of an approved residency in Forensic Pathology. The Physician Specialist, M.D. performs the full range of professional level work including autopsy procedures, determining cause of death, assessing signs of illness or injury, reviewing laboratory and radiological data, and directing forensic technicians in autopsy procedures. The position is responsible for training and/or assisting in the training of physicians assigned to residency or fellowship programs. Incumbents are required to exercise knowledge of departmental policies and procedures and to actively demonstrate skills typically associated with Forensic Pathology.
- Performs medical work in a specialized medical field, including specialized autopsy procedures within Forensic Pathology specialty.
- Conducts training or assists in the training of resident or fellow physicians.
- Consults with staff physicians regarding medical and diagnostic work performed.
- Provides consultation to other medical services, including specialists in other fields.
- Conducts the more difficult post mortem examinations and may provide training of other physicians engaged in these activities.
- Confers with medical and professional personnel in such related fields as toxicology in order to discover the main and contributing causes of death.
- Certifies as to the cause of death and testifies in court as an expert witness.
- Develops new techniques within the medical specialty, as needed.
- Conducts specialized research, special studies, and services, including preventive and educational strategies, as needed.
Completion of a residency in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology AND a fellowship* in Forensic Pathology or equivalent training** approved by the American Board of Pathology.
California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California.***
Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.***
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
3 - Moderate. Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighting over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.
- Applicants who will successfully complete their fellowship program approved by an American Specialty Board within six (6) months of filing may compete in this examination. However, their names will be placed on a withhold status on the eligible register. Applicants MUST submit a copy of their recommendation letter from the Residency Program Director confirming good standing and anticipated successful completion date, at the time of filing or email it to ealcazar@hr.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing online. The recommendation letter must be on a legible letterhead from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization. In the event candidates do not successfully complete their fellowship program, their names will be removed from the eligible register. A copy of the completion of fellowship program certificate must be submitted before appointment.
Applicants who do not possess a California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate at the time of filing may compete in this examination. However, their names will be withheld from the certification list pending receipt of the required California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California.
Applicants who have completed a residency and/or fellowship program approved by the American Specialty Board MUST attach a legible copy of their certificate of completion to the application at the time of filing or email it to EAlcazar@hr.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing online.
- Equivalent training is defined as training which the appropriate American Specialty Board formally recognizes in writing as being equivalent.
- Applicants who possess the required California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California and Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, must attach a legible copy of their certificate to the application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission. If you are unable to attach the required documents, you must email it to EAlcazar@hr.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing online. Please include exam number and exam title.
The required license/certificate MUST be current and unrestricted; conditional, provisional, probationary or restricted license/certificate will NOT be accepted.
This examination will consist of a review and appraisal of qualifications based upon information from Curriculum Vitae*, weighted 100%. This examination will assess procedural; cognitive and diagnostic; administrative; and dispositional competencies.
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE CURRICULUM VITAE
As part of the application, all applicants must submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) summarizing their education, experience, and training as it relates to FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST (PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST) (NON-MEGAFLEX). Each CV must cover the following areas:
- educational degrees obtained
- teaching experience
- research completed (e.g., studies, articles, publications)
- awards received
- academic and professional presentations given
All applicants shall attach their CV to their application at time of filing or email to ealcazar@hr.lacounty.gov within 7 days of submitting their application. Applications that are missing the CV will be deemed incomplete. Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the appraisal of qualifications in order to be placed on the eligible register.
Final results will be sent by E-mail. Scores cannot be given over the phone.
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months from the date their name is added to the register.
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.
NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS.
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of offense(s).
Candidates selected for appointment will be extended an offer of employment that is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation which includes a medical screening and a psychological evaluation.
The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies in the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner located at 1104 North Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Any
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Career Goals
- Legible copy of certificate of completion of residency training program approved by the American Specialty Board.
- Legible copy of California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California.
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal Law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Testing Accommodations Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
Department Contact Name: Erika Alcazar
Department Contant Phone: (213) 349-8006
Department Contact Email: EAlcazar@hr.lacounty.gov
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit: https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/.
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.
Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.
For more information on veteran’s credit, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205102_PPG_115.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Revised September 2025
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