A chief medical examiner is an investigating officer whose job involves finding out the cause(s) of sudden or suspicious deaths.
A chief medical examiner is the official in charge of investigating unexpected, sudden, suspicious or violent deaths. He seeks to establish the cause of death. He is also responsible for providing pathological and toxicological services necessary to assist in the investigation of deaths that raise public inquiry. The chief medical examiner takes up a supervisory role, overseeing the work of medical examiners.
Education and Training
In order to qualify for the post of chief medical examiner, you must complete a four-year bachelor of science degree. You must also attend medical school for four years in order to get a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree or Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. This is followed by five years training in clinical and anatomic pathology and one year residency in forensic pathology or four years training in anatomic pathology and one year of forensic pathology training.
Certification and Licensure
A chief medical examiner must get certification from the American Board of Pathology. Even though each state may have varied licensure and certification requirements, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Board of Medical Specialists require that you sit for a final examination after your residency in order to get certification. On the other hand, you must be a graduate from an accredited medical school and pass the licensing examination.
Responsibilities and Duties
The chief medical examiner works with other medical examiners by reviewing the pathology functions they perform.
A chief medical examiner's main responsibility is to review all the forensic pathology functions performed by medical examiners. The duties, therefore, include keeping an eye on unnatural and sudden death investigations. Chief medical examiners also offer consultation related to forensic medicine and pathology and provide resources for forensic pathology as well as general information about forensic science. A chief medical examiner may also testify in court, providing conclusions and facts revealed by the autopsies carried out by the medical examiners.
Compensation
A chief medical examiner's salary varies by state. According to SimplyHired, a chief medical examiner in New York earns an average of $63,000. In California he earns $60,000 annually. In New Jersey he earns $62,000, in Texas he earns $50,000, and $59,000 in Washington D.C. as of June 10, 2010.
Desirable Skills
A chief medical examiner's job requires excellent communication skills.
The chief medical examiner comprehends scientific rules and methods and is able to implement them in problem solving. He has good communication skills necessary to relay information efficiently. He is also able to motivate and direct people as they carry out their duties while maintaining a good working relationship.
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