ASCP Launches Forensic Pathology Rotation in Underserved Areas

Forensic pathology is one of the most understaffed pathology subspecialties with a current workforce of between 500 and 600 MD pathologists interacting with the criminal justice system. However, at least 1,200 pathologists are needed to meet the standards of the U.S. medicolegal death investigation system. This has created unprecedented demand for forensic pathologists resulting in significantly improved compensation packages, loan repayment opportunities, and hybrid career choices. 

To bolster the forensic pathology pipeline, ASCP has partnered with George Mason University through a cooperative agreement funded by the National Institute of Justice to provide opportunities that increase the visibility of forensic pathology profession and provide education and training to the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME-C) community in rural communities and national audiences.

Through this program, ASCP has provided a total of 17 scholarships to US-based pathology residents (PGY-1 and 2) for one-month experiential forensic pathology rotations at rural Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME-C) Offices. These ME-C office sites have been widely distributed geographically across rural and/or underserved areas of the US, including in the Southeast (SC, FL), Southwest (AZ), Midwest (MN), and Northeast (CT) regions. These scholarships have allowed trainees to rotate within forensic pathology units in a variety of settings to experience the opportunities, challenges, and excitement of medico-legal investigation. In addition to direct exposure to the practice of forensic medicine, trainees have also gained experience in hybrid pathology career models, innovative loan repayment systems, incentives, and the concept of multi-jurisdiction coverage.

In the first round of this scholarship program, ASCP’s subject matter experts reviewed a total of 39 applications, distributed across PGY-1 to PGY-3 pathology residents. Most applicants (66.7%, 26 of 39) self-reported that they were committed to forensic pathology as a career. The remaining 13 applicants indicated that, although they were not already committed to forensic pathology, they were considering forensic pathology as a career. Scholarships were awarded to both groups. To date, a total of four forensic pathology rotations have been completed in rural ME/C offices, with another 13 scheduled or in the process of being matched with host sites. ASCP will follow scholarship recipients longitudinally to better understand if and how this or other training experiences contributed to their entry into the forensic pathology workforce.

Dr. Brandon Gehris, PGY-2 pathology resident, who through this scholarship did a rotation at the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Arizona said, “This rotation was excellent and eye opening. It helped me understand the challenges of a rural forensics office including logistics, limited staff, and limited resources. I also had more face time with attendings compared to a larger more urban office." ASCP will follow scholarship recipients longitudinally to better understand if and how this or other training experiences contributed to their entry into the forensic pathology workforce.

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