Pathology

Forensic Pathology Fellowship

Aims Statement

Our Forensic Pathology Fellowship program aims to create expert forensic pathologists. We have twelve full time staff pathologists, a varied and vast caseload, and ample opportunities for scene investigation and courtroom experience. Trainees are exposed to ballistics, toxicology and DNA labs, the morgue, and death investigation services, along with medico-legal aspects of autopsy using our highly qualified faculty and outside expert consultants. Our faculty train our fellows to be compassionate with grieving family members, The majority of our graduates will become full-time Forensic pathologists in a government office or academic setting. These positions often offer teaching opportunities at medical centers and law enforcement training centers. Some trainees may pursue a more academic career, covering hospital autopsy services. All of these settings may have research opportunities, although Forensic pathologists rarely pursue pure research tracks.

Overview

Dallas County and UT Southwestern Medical School offer a one-year ACGME-accredited Forensic Pathology Fellowship Training Program with special emphasis on comprehensive, scientific death investigation. Two fellowship positions are funded for each academic year. The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences is located in Dallas, Texas, near the UT Southwestern campus. The facility serves many north Texas counties, examining approximately 4,200 decedents each year. The fellows are expected to complete approximately 200–250 forensic autopsies during the year and are actively involved with the death investigation division of the Office of the Medical Examiner.

Program Description 

Program Description

The Medical Examiner’s Office is co-located with the Criminal Investigation Laboratory, which contains both the toxicology and physical evidence sections, which allows for active involvement with these teams as part of the training year. Fellows will work with forensic pathology faculty, as well as Ph.D. faculty in Biology, Toxicology, and Anthropology.

This high level of integration of the Medical Examiner’s Office, Criminal Investigation Laboratory, and Department of Pathology at UT Southwestern provides numerous opportunities for academic interactions, including conferences, teaching, and research activities. Regularly scheduled conferences include both gross and microscopic neuropathology, didactic lecture sessions, cardiac pathology, and case review conferences.

Additional professional consultants used frequently by the Medical Examiner’s Office include forensic odontology, anthropology, and pediatric pathology. This is a year of intense activity with unique opportunity to develop forensic pathology judgment and capabilities.

Requirements 

Requirements

Fellows are required to have completed anatomic pathology or a combined anatomic and clinical pathology residency. Devotion to duty, high personal integrity, and keen sense of interest in the field of forensic pathology are also necessary. Physician must have a Texas medical license or be eligible for a Texas physician in training (PIT) permit. At this time, we do not accept H1b visas.

Benefits 

Benefits

  • Financial support to attend conferences (National Association of Medical Examiners or the American Academy of Forensic Sciences)
  • Additional educational funds provided by UTSW
  • Laptop
Faculty 

Faculty