Forensic Pathology Fellowship

Position Description:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office provides complete forensic pathology services to 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties in deaths which qualify as coroner cases under the Georgia Death Investigation Act. Autopsies are conducted by GBI medical examiners at the headquarters laboratory in Decatur and in the regional laboratories in Macon and Savannah.

The fellow will be exposed to a large volume of both homicide and non-homicide cases from urban, suburban, and rural settings.  

Under direct supervision of board certified forensic pathologists, the fellow will perform autopsies and postmortem examinations to determine cause and manner of death, review postmortem radiographs for identification and trauma analysis, collect specimens for toxicology, submit and review histologic specimens, collect evidence to be disseminated to various laboratories and agencies, prepare reports of postmortem examination and autopsies, review pertinent documents such as medical records, police reports, toxicology reports and outside laboratory reports, and testify in court when called.  The GBI ME Office has consultants in forensic anthropology, odontology, neuropathology, clinical child abuse specialists, radiology, pediatric pathology, and entomology.

• On-campus crime lab with dedicated forensic science rotations: The GBI ME office is within a crime lab accredited by ASCLD-LAB to the ISO 17025 Standard and has in-house chemistry, firearms, biology, implied consent, latent prints, toxicology, and trace evidence.  The fellow will rotate through in-house sections of the crime lab and consult with other departments on a case-by-case basis. 
• Pediatric forensic pathology training: Two of the medical examiners at the headquarters lab have specialty training with board certification in pediatric pathology. The Child Abuse Investigative Support Center (CAISC) and state Child Fatality Review (CFR) are housed within the ME Office and consults on both live cases and death cases.
• Cardiac pathology training: The fellow will examine gross and microscopic specimens with cardiac pathologists in conjunction with local tissue procurement specialists.  
• Scene investigation training: The fellow will attend scenes with ABMDI-certified medicolegal death investigators at neighboring DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office (approximately 8 miles from campus).
• Legal Curriculum: The fellow will work with in-house legal faculty, attend lectures, and participate in mock trials at the in-house mock courtroom to prepare for future courtroom testimony and depositions.
• Research: Expenses to present research or case report at a national meeting will be covered by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
• Quality improvement: The fellow will have opportunities to participate in quality projects with other in-house forensic science sections and/or local hospital trauma surgery peer review committee conferences.
• Mentoring and wellness: The fellow will be supported and advised by faculty who enjoy teaching in an office with an open-door policy.  In addition to daily educational case review rounds and a formal didactic lecture series, the fellow is encouraged to participate in informal case discussions and histology review with faculty.  A multiheaded scope, digital conferencing, on-campus library, and digital library resources are available.
• Private fellow offices and other provisions: The fellow will be provided with a private secured office, furnished with a desktop computer, a microscope with digital image capturing capabilities, and dictation devices.  The fellow will also be given a state-issued laptop and I-phone to be used during employment.  The state-issued resources may be used for occasional teleworking.  The fellow will be provided with scrubs, a white coat, a dissection kit, and other (optional) uniform clothing.  Laundry services, two break rooms, a lactation room, and a gym are on-site.  Free on campus parking with 24-hour on-site security.  Local restaurant pop-ups occur on campus twice per week.

Organization:
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner Office in conjunction with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

Primary Work Location:
Decatur, GA (Greater Atlanta area)

Requirements:
Applicants must possess a M.D. or D.O. degree and be board eligible in AP or AP/CP prior to starting fellowship.  The applicants must have a valid license to practice medicine in the State of Georgia prior to the commencement of the fellowship.  Selected candidates must be able to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the office; however, no weekend service or holiday work will be required. The fellows must also be available to receive and respond to telephone inquiries from home, while acting in an on-call status during the second half of the academic year. A further background check will be required through the GBI. The applicants must be physically capable of performing autopsies and post-mortem examinations and be able to prepare presentations for office meetings. The applicants must have a valid Georgia driver’s license. 

Stipends:
Salary will be commensurate with candidate's level of training.

We are currently accepting applications for the '25-'26 academic year. 

Applications accepted: September 1, 2023 - November 1, 2023 
Interview Period: January 2024 – February 2024
Match opens: February 7, 2024
Ranking opens: March 20, 2024
Ranking Closes: April 17, 2024
Match Day: May 1, 2024
Fellowship Begins: July 1, 2025

Applications:

• The Standardized Application for Pathology Fellowships from the College of American Pathologists, with photograph
• Personal Statement
• Curriculum Vitae
• USMLE/COMLEX Scores
• Recommendation Letters (minimum of 3 and one of which must be from your Residency Program Director)
• ECFMG certification (if applicable)
• Fellowship Begins: July 1, 2025

Program Director: 
Rachel Geller, MD
Associate Medical Examiner
Georgia Bureau of Investigation, DOFS

Program Contact Information:
Courtney Lawrence, Fellowship Coordinator
Augusta University
Forensic Pathology, 3121 Panthersville Rd.
Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: (404) 270-8212
Fax: (404) 270-8183
E-mail: courtney.lawrence@gbi.ga.gov