On-Call Forensic Autopsy Technician I

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness reimbursement

Continuing education and tuition reimb

Employer-funded retirement plan

Paid holidays

Paid volunteer time

Job summary

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is seeking a dedicated cadre member to support postmortem examinations and related laboratory work. Responsibilities include autopsy dissection, specimen handling, and medical photography to document findings.

The role requires meticulous record-keeping, adherence to chain-of-custody procedures, and collaboration with anatomy and histology teams. Occasional overtime and a focus on quality control are expected.

Qualifications

• Proficient in autopsy procedures and specimen handling.
• Experience with medical photography and documentation workflow.
• Knowledge of quality control criteria and chain-of-custody procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform external examination, photographs, and collect/prepare specimens for lab analysis.
• Perform autopsy dissection, document data, weights, measurements; store and dispose specimens per procedures.
• Prepare body for funeral home, notify office, and complete records.
• Photograph surgical, autopsy and graphic materials; create labeled permanent records.
• Assist anatomy lab with cadaver transfers, storage, maintenance, and prosections.
• Assist histology lab with slide/parasite labeling, printing, shipping docs; maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Organize workload to meet deadlines and maintain chain of custody.
• Review cremation permit requests.
• May assist with cleaning bodily fluids from cadavers.
• Occasionally work overtime on weekends/evenings.
• Acquire knowledge of new technology and policy revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills

Autopsy procedures

Medical photography

Specimen handling

Documentation

Quality control

Overtime availability

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Biology, Anatomy)

Tools

Slide printing equipment

Job description

Prepares bodies for postmortem examinations, assists pathologist during and after the examination, and prepares body for release to funeral home; provide medical photography services. Provides support with transfer of cadavers to anatomy laboratory and into storage, maintenance of cadavers and the anatomy lab, and assisting with prosections of cadavers, as needed. Performs routine and non-routine activities involved in the storage, filing, and preparation of slides for microscopic evaluation and adheres to established quality control criteria and established procedures.

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Wellness reimbursement.
• Continuing education and tuition reimbursement.
• Employer-funded retirement plan.
• Two medical plan options: PPO and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contribution.
• Flexible work solutions based on position and department.
• Up to four weeks of PTO accrual beginning in year one.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid volunteer time.
• Paid preferred holiday.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs external examination, photographs, and collects, packages, and/or delivers specimens for laboratory analysis on post-mortem subjects.
• Performs autopsy dissection, documents data, observations, weights, and measurements following established procedures, stores autopsy specimens, and disposes of them according to established procedures.
• Prepares body for funeral home, notifies designated office, and completes all records.
• Photographs surgical, autopsy and graphic materials, upload digital photographs, and creates permanent record of photographs with accurate labeling.
• Assists in the anatomy lab to include: support with transfer of cadavers to anatomy laboratory and into storage, maintenance of cadavers and the anatomy lab, and prosections of cadavers.
• Assists in the histology lab to include: maintains organization of all glass slides and paraffin blocks; ensure proper accessioning and labeling of all tissue samples, including operation of slide and cassette printing equipment; prepares samples for shipment, including inventory procedures and generating shipping documentation; perform routine and non-routine activities involved in the preparation of slides for microscopic evaluation, as directed by Lead Histotechnologist; perform routine maintenance and cleaning of equipment, perform scheduled maintenance, and troubleshoot minor equipment failures; document remedial actions such as repairs or repeated tests.
• Organizes workload to complete assignments within requested time frame.
• Documents and maintains evidence in accordance with chain of custody protocols.
• Reviews, investigates, and authorizes cremation permit requests.
• At times may be responsible for cleaning up bodily fluids from cadavers outside of department.
• Availability to work occasional overtime on weekends or evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.