Job Description

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

Our core purpose is to protect public health and serve impartial justice through forensic science and medicine. We exist to provide answers in support of families and communities during times of profound need.
The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.

- Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
- Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
- Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
- Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
- Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs

JOB DESCRIPTION

The core values of the OCME are to put the mission of the agency first, to be truly dedicated and to have integrity in every aspect of our professional life. Under administrative direction, and with wide latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, they will perform difficult and complex assignments and investigations which include cases of suspicious death and those deaths resulting from criminal violence. A City Medical Examiner II is responsible for confidential investigations and will supervise the work of City Medical Examiners I. Duties include but are not limited to:

- Orders the body to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy or other purposes indicated by circumstances.
- Performs autopsies when indicated.
- Carries out necessary histological examinations of tissues and other microscopic examinations.
- Selects organs and tissues for toxicological examinations and materials for serologic examinations.
- Prepares reports on the results of investigations and examinations, and promptly files the reports in the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
- Certifies the cause of sudden deaths, unexpected deaths and deaths resulting from violence; certifies such causes on the basis of the complete findings of the postmortem and related
examinations.
- Certifies the cause of death in such complex and sensitive cases when greater discretion, judgment and expertise are required.
- Reports the findings of deaths reported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner to proper official agencies as required by applicable law.
- Investigates applications for cremation.
- Testifies before grand juries and in court as an official of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
- Provides consultations in neuropathology or pediatric pathology for other pathologists serving in the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
- Develops new policies, methods and techniques in the investigation of deaths.
- Consults with law enforcement agencies, courts, and other City and governmental agencies on confidential policies and problems of mutual concern.
- Performs teaching and administrative duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements for Assignment Level I

A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York and completion of one of the following requirements:

1. Two years of an American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) residency in anatomic pathology, or three years of an ACGME accredited residency in anatomic and clinical pathology, and evidence of having performed at least 30 autopsies; or"

2. An ACGME accredited residency training program in a subspecialty field of anatomic or clinical pathology (i.e. neuropathology, pediatric pathology, molecular genetic pathology, etc.) or other medical/clinical specialty (i.e. radiology, pediatrics, etc.) applicable to the practice of forensic medicine.

Qualification Requirements for Assignment Level II

A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York and completion of one of the following requirements:

1. Be certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology and possess either:
a. Evidence of having performed at least 200 autopsies; or
b. One year of satisfactory performance at Assignment Level I.
OR

2. Be board certified by the American Board of Pathology in a subspecialty of anatomic or clinical pathology (i.e. as above) or be American Board of Medical Specialties board certified in another medical/clinical specialty applicable to the practice of forensic medicine.