Pathologists in Training Member Community

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hello Dr. Jackson, 

Good to have you here. Do trainees need to be board certified in FP to do forensic autopsies? I have seen conflicting answers to this question. Thanks.

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Excellent question, Allen!

To ensure high-quality medicolegal death investigation, forensic autopsy examinations should only be performed by a Board-certified forensic pathologist (or a pathologist-in-training while supervised by a forensic pathologist). In the U.S., the certifying Board should be the American Board of Pathology (ABP).  The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) outlines this in their 2016 Forensic Autopsy Performance Standards on page 9, and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences outlines this in their 2021 Organizational and Foundational Standard for Medicolegal Death Investigation on page 7. 

When a death occurs that falls under the jurisdiction of the local Medical Examiner or Coroner, they are commonly categorized as an "apparent" accident, natural, homicide, or suicide death. The reason for this is that things might come to light during an autopsy that can change the manner of death from natural to accident, suicide, or homicide or from an accident to a homicide. If the individual performing the autopsy is not trained to detect clues that might indicate a non-natural death, as is learned during a forensic pathology fellowship, a potential accident, suicide, or homicide might be missed. 

There is a current shortage of forensic pathologists in America, and some offices have opted to use non-forensic pathologists to fill in the gaps. They often assign the apparent natural or accidental deaths to non-forensic pathologists. However, this runs the risk of missing something important or evidentiary value. Many stories have made the news where someone other than a forensic pathologist was performing an autopsy they were not qualified to do that ended up going to trial, and they missed something important, which can have grave consequences for either the accused or the grieving family, as well as tarnish the reputation of the person performing the autopsy. Here is one such example. 

The good news is that plenty of training positions and jobs are available nationwide, and salaries are increasing annually!

------------------------------
Nicole Jackson Staff Pathologist
UW Medicine
Seattle WA

Original Message:
Sent: 08-12-2024 14:08
From: Allen Omo-Ogboi
Subject: AMA: Dr. Nicole Jackson

Hello Dr. Jackson, 

Good to have you here. Do trainees need to be board certified in FP to do forensic autopsies? I have seen conflicting answers to this question. Thanks.

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Thank you for sharing your expertise with us Dr. Jackson!

1. What are your suggestions for residents who are interested in a FP fellowship but their home institution doesn't have many opportunities for exposure?
2. What are things residents should look for in a program when applying to a FP fellowship?
3. Do you have suggestions for resources residents can use to help medical students get involved or interested in forensic pathology?

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Thank you for those kind words and this deep question!

I often say that forensic pathologists are the doctors of many people whose systems fatally failed them, whether regarding access to quality healthcare or food, safe environments and stable housing, or our carceral system. To me, the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US is the capitalistic society we live in. So much of our life and health are determined by the ZIP code where we are born, our socioeconomic status, and our physical traits, with relatively minimal room for upward mobility for most people, leaving many relatively "stuck" at the level they are born at or enter this country at.  

So, as pathologists, what can we do to address this pressing issue of health inequality? First, being good, honest, and objective in your work as a forensic pathologist is key. Our work, the way we sign peoples' death certificates, is important. Causes of death are coded, and this information feeds public health systems and public policy work and can help create accountability. So, simply doing your job well and providing accurate statistics is helping to appropriately represent the burden of health inequalities. Second, if there is interest, you can use your career and platform to advocate for whatever cause(s) you feel drawn to.

Something we all can do, especially this year, is vote. Your vote can make a significant difference in addressing health inequality. Vote as if your life and the lives of everyone you serve through your work depend on it because it matters this election year more than any others. 

And yes, you missed me by a few years - I was there from the tail end of 2021 until mid-2023!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA, Dr. Jackson. As a CP only resident, I know I missed out on the wonderful field of Forensic Pathology. A question I often get asked by medical students is about the emotional toll that your work takes on you. How do you navigate the emotional demands of your work while maintaining professional objectivity?

Thank you for those kind words and this deep question!

I often say that forensic pathologists are the doctors of many people whose systems fatally failed them, whether regarding access to quality healthcare or food, safe environments and stable housing, or our carceral system. To me, the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US is the capitalistic society we live in. So much of our life and health are determined by the ZIP code where we are born, our socioeconomic status, and our physical traits, with relatively minimal room for upward mobility for most people, leaving many relatively "stuck" at the level they are born at or enter this country at.  

So, as pathologists, what can we do to address this pressing issue of health inequality? First, being good, honest, and objective in your work as a forensic pathologist is key. Our work, the way we sign peoples' death certificates, is important. Causes of death are coded, and this information feeds public health systems and public policy work and can help create accountability. So, simply doing your job well and providing accurate statistics is helping to appropriately represent the burden of health inequalities. Second, if there is interest, you can use your career and platform to advocate for whatever cause(s) you feel drawn to.

Something we all can do, especially this year, is vote. Your vote can make a significant difference in addressing health inequality. Vote as if your life and the lives of everyone you serve through your work depend on it because it matters this election year more than any others. 

And yes, you missed me by a few years - I was there from the tail end of 2021 until mid-2023!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Thank you for those kind words and this deep question!

I often say that forensic pathologists are the doctors of many people whose systems fatally failed them, whether regarding access to quality healthcare or food, safe environments and stable housing, or our carceral system. To me, the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US is the capitalistic society we live in. So much of our life and health are determined by the ZIP code where we are born, our socioeconomic status, and our physical traits, with relatively minimal room for upward mobility for most people, leaving many relatively "stuck" at the level they are born at or enter this country at.  

So, as pathologists, what can we do to address this pressing issue of health inequality? First, being good, honest, and objective in your work as a forensic pathologist is key. Our work, the way we sign peoples' death certificates, is important. Causes of death are coded, and this information feeds public health systems and public policy work and can help create accountability. So, simply doing your job well and providing accurate statistics is helping to appropriately represent the burden of health inequalities. Second, if there is interest, you can use your career and platform to advocate for whatever cause(s) you feel drawn to.

Something we all can do, especially this year, is vote. Your vote can make a significant difference in addressing health inequality. Vote as if your life and the lives of everyone you serve through your work depend on it because it matters this election year more than any others. 

And yes, you missed me by a few years - I was there from the tail end of 2021 until mid-2023!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Dr. Jackson. And thank you for reminding us all to vote! That is so important! 

-Savanah 

Thank you for those kind words and this deep question!

I often say that forensic pathologists are the doctors of many people whose systems fatally failed them, whether regarding access to quality healthcare or food, safe environments and stable housing, or our carceral system. To me, the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US is the capitalistic society we live in. So much of our life and health are determined by the ZIP code where we are born, our socioeconomic status, and our physical traits, with relatively minimal room for upward mobility for most people, leaving many relatively "stuck" at the level they are born at or enter this country at.  

So, as pathologists, what can we do to address this pressing issue of health inequality? First, being good, honest, and objective in your work as a forensic pathologist is key. Our work, the way we sign peoples' death certificates, is important. Causes of death are coded, and this information feeds public health systems and public policy work and can help create accountability. So, simply doing your job well and providing accurate statistics is helping to appropriately represent the burden of health inequalities. Second, if there is interest, you can use your career and platform to advocate for whatever cause(s) you feel drawn to.

Something we all can do, especially this year, is vote. Your vote can make a significant difference in addressing health inequality. Vote as if your life and the lives of everyone you serve through your work depend on it because it matters this election year more than any others. 

And yes, you missed me by a few years - I was there from the tail end of 2021 until mid-2023!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hi Dr. Jackson, we are so happy to hear from you!

I have one question, in your experience as a forensic pathologist, what emerging trends or technologies do you believe will most significantly impact the field in the coming years, and how can professionals in forensic pathology best stay ahead of these changes?

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Dr. Jackson. And thank you for reminding us all to vote! That is so important! 

-Savanah 

Thank you for those kind words and this deep question!

I often say that forensic pathologists are the doctors of many people whose systems fatally failed them, whether regarding access to quality healthcare or food, safe environments and stable housing, or our carceral system. To me, the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US is the capitalistic society we live in. So much of our life and health are determined by the ZIP code where we are born, our socioeconomic status, and our physical traits, with relatively minimal room for upward mobility for most people, leaving many relatively "stuck" at the level they are born at or enter this country at.  

So, as pathologists, what can we do to address this pressing issue of health inequality? First, being good, honest, and objective in your work as a forensic pathologist is key. Our work, the way we sign peoples' death certificates, is important. Causes of death are coded, and this information feeds public health systems and public policy work and can help create accountability. So, simply doing your job well and providing accurate statistics is helping to appropriately represent the burden of health inequalities. Second, if there is interest, you can use your career and platform to advocate for whatever cause(s) you feel drawn to.

Something we all can do, especially this year, is vote. Your vote can make a significant difference in addressing health inequality. Vote as if your life and the lives of everyone you serve through your work depend on it because it matters this election year more than any others. 

And yes, you missed me by a few years - I was there from the tail end of 2021 until mid-2023!

Hi Dr. Jackson, 

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to ask you questions this week! It is clear you are a leader in your field, and my impression (from X and other social media platforms) is that you inspire many young people to become leaders themselves. In particular, you inspire those coming from populations currently underrepresented in medicine and this work is paramount because it helps address the current health inequities we face in the US. We need more leaders like you! 

I have one question. What do you believe is the biggest contributor to health inequality in the US and how can we, as pathologists, help address this problem?

PS I rotated through the King County ME office back in 2018 when I was a med student -- I must have just missed you! 

-Savanah 

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!

Hello pathology residents & fellows,

Welcome to the first Resident Council "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) session! For this whole week (8/12-8/18), we are honored to have our celebrity pathologist guest Dr. @Nicole Jackson hosting an AMA on this Pathologists-In-Training Community. Dr. Jackson is the Director of Autopsy and After Death Services at the University of Washington. She is here to answer all of your questions about forensic pathology, or any related topics you are curious about.

Ask away!