Responsibilities

Brief Assistant Medical Examiner Overview: The Assistant Medical Examiner conducts medicolegal death investigations pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 49.25, including external examinations of decedents as well as complete and partial autopsies, with appropriate evidence collection; provides testimonial evidence in court regarding medicolegal death investigations and evidence collected from bodies; and teaches trainees (forensic pathology fellow, pathology residents, medical residents, medical students, nursing students) about various aspects of medicolegal death investigation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Collects and completes medicolegal death investigations pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 49.25, including performing autopsies and external examinations of decedents; collecting histologic, toxicologic, and physical evidence; interpreting gross anatomic pathology and microscopic pathology; interpreting toxicologic results; reviewing and synthesizing of medical records and police reports; crafting timely and thorough autopsy reports; and signing death certificates on a timely basis
Provides expert testimony in criminal and civil court matters relating to medicolegal death investigations (including substitute testimony for other Assistant Medical Examiners who may not be available for testimony); prepares for testimony by attending depositions and pretrial conferences with prosecutor, plaintiff, and defense attorneys as needed
Participates in ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement activities with the Pathology Division, including regular attendance at daily case assignment and review conferences, and weekly quality assurance and consensus conferences
Is fully engaged in teaching activities at the Department including mentoring forensic pathology fellows, supervising medical residents, and providing guidance to medical students, nursing students, and other trainees; including providing direct supervision and instruction in autopsy performance as well as providing instructional presentations and lectures
Participates in administrative aspects of the medical examiner operation, including weekly administrative meetings, and performing other tasks as required (participation in regular review / revision of standard operating procedures, participation in various accreditation preparation activities)
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are requested of the employee of this position
Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time

Qualifications

Education:

Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) OR Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

Licensure:

License to practice medicine in the State of Texas by date of employment
Certification by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic pathology by the date of employment
Certification by the American Board of Pathology in forensic pathology within two (2) years of date of employment
Maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Additional Requirements:

Must pass criminal background check and drug / alcohol screening (prior to and randomly after employment)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Expertise in forensic pathology, general anatomic pathology, and broad foundational knowledge of other medical and surgical specialties
Ability to communicate effectively with lay, technical, medical, and legal audiences; ability to provide empathetic consultation with family members of decedents, dictate autopsy findings, edit autopsy reports, and provide testimony as required in civil and criminal proceedings
Must be able to calmly, effectively, and convincingly express complex analytical conclusions and medical decisions in adversarial situations
Excellent time management skills, strategies, and abilities, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously
Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office

Note: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Compensation

$290,000.00 - $335,000.00 Annually

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan. The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Medical
Dental
Vision
Wellness
Life Insurance
Long-term disability
Employee Assistance Program
10 days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service. Accrual rates increase based on years of service.
10 county holidays plus one (1) floating holiday
Professional development opportunities
Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
Healthcare Reimbursement Account
457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

Retirement pension (TCDRS)
Flexible schedules (varies by department)
Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

How to apply

Interested applicants can apply using the Harris County Career Pages link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx/jobs/4359206/assistant-medical-examiner

Apply