Physician (Radiology-Diagnostic)

Defense Health Agency; Dover (DE); On-site; USD 360,000 - 440,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal retirement plans

Generous paid time off

Malpractice protection

Job summary

The Defense Health Agency is seeking a Physician Radiology-Diagnostic to provide expert radiological consultation and oversee forensic casework. The role offers competitive compensation and standard outpatient hours, paired with generous paid time off and federal retirement plans.

Ideal candidates will possess comprehensive knowledge in forensic radiology, advanced imaging modalities, and a commitment to professional development. Located in Dover, Delaware, this position plays an essential role in healthcare provided to service members.

Qualifications

• Must have exceptionally broad knowledge of all radiology modalities.
• Serve as the premier DoD subject matter expert on forensic radiology.
• Conduct active research, publish peer-reviewed literature.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert radiological consultation and peer-reviewed interpretations.
• Interpret post-mortem imaging of active-duty service members.
• Supervise and evaluate performance of radiologic technologists.

Skills

Expert radiological consultation

Advanced imaging techniques (CT, MRI)

Forensic radiology

Education

Medical degree with board certification

Tools

Radiological equipment

PACS systems

Job description

Overview

• Global Reach: AFMES is the only medical examiner system authorized to support the Department of War and other federal agencies with comprehensive forensic investigative services worldwide. Within 48 hours of notification, their recovery teams can deploy to any environmental condition on Earth.

• Leading-Edge DNA Science: It hosts the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), which is responsible for the massive, ongoing national mission of identifying the remains of fallen service members from past conflicts (dating back to WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam) as well as current operations.

• Dignified Returns: The medical staff, in coordination with Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO) and the Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED), ensure the dignified transfer, forensic identification, and honorable return of every fallen American service member who dies overseas.

Physician Radiology-Diagnostic

Enjoy competitive compensation, standard outpatient clinic hours with no heavy trauma-center call requirements, generous paid time off, federal retirement plans, and malpractice protection.

• Salary negotiation/Leave accrual negotiations may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

• Interest in forensics is preferred.

• Medical malpractice liability insurance is not required for federal civilian healthcare providers as they are covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 1346(b)) while acting within the scope of their employment.

Salary: Up to $400,000 year

Benefits

• Federal retirement plans, standard outpatient clinic hours, generous paid time off, and malpractice protection.

Location Highlights

• Delaware Beaches (Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany): ~1.5 to 2 hours south
• Philadelphia, PA: ~85 miles north (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Baltimore, MD: ~80 miles northwest (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Washington, D.C.: ~100 miles southwest (approx. 2 hours)
• New York City, NY: ~150 miles northeast (approx. 2.5 to 3 hours)

Responsibilities

• Diagnostic radiology casework in support of AFMES, HA/DHA, and DoD.

  • Provide expert radiological consultation and peer-reviewed interpretations for global medicolegal investigations, utilizing advanced imaging (CT, MRI, and digital radiography) to assist in determining cause and manner of death.
  • Interpret post-mortem imaging of active-duty service members, federal personnel, and other designated decedents to identify occult trauma, foreign bodies, anatomical variations, and disease states.
  • Collaborate with AFDIL and physical anthropologists to utilize radiographic comparison for definitive identification of fragmented or commingled remains.

• Oversee and interpret all radiological examinations conducted by the Forensic Pathology Investigations Division.

  • Perform diagnostic interpretation on 100% of post-mortem CT, fluoroscopy, and traditional plain-film radiographs obtained during autopsy.
  • Generate authoritative, legally defensible, and timely radiology reports detailing all findings.
  • Provide expert testimony in federal, military, or civilian courts on radiological findings and injury mechanisms.

• Oversight and implementation of current Forensic Radiology processes and development of future processes.

  • Standardize and update post-mortem imaging protocols to align with international standards set by ISFRI.
  • Champion integration of emerging imaging technologies such as PMCTA and advanced 3D surface scanning into the routine autopsy workflow.
  • Direct validation, calibration, and quality control of advanced radiological equipment, ensuring compliance with federal radiation safety guidelines.

• Must have exceptionally broad knowledge of all radiology modalities, with an emphasis on forensic radiology.

  • Serve as the premier DoD subject matter expert on forensic radiology, providing consults to regional military treatment facilities and federal law enforcement agencies.
  • Maintain board-certified proficiency in cross-sectional imaging, musculoskeletal radiology, and emergency/trauma imaging.
  • Conduct active research, publish peer-reviewed literature, and lecture at national military and civilian medical conferences.

• Responsible for development and evolution of radiologic imaging service protocols, oversight of radiology technologists, and service practices.

  • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate performance of military and civilian radiologic technologists operating within the forensic environment.
  • Establish training programs for post-mortem positioning, artifact reduction, and radiation safety protocols unique to forensic pathology.
  • Lead technical integration and troubleshooting of specialized PACS customized for forensic and non-clinical storage.