Forensic Pathologist

This posting will be open continuously until the position is filled.

Our anticipated hiring range for this position is $250,000 to $300,000 annually depending on experience and certifications. Arapahoe County offers a competitive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, retirement, vacation, and sick. Additional benefits specific to the forensic pathology position also include travel to one professional meeting per year, professional association dues payment, and use of a county vehicle.

Recruitment_Forensic_Pathologist_2025.pdf

• Reviews deaths reported to the County Coroner's Office as required by Colorado Statute and determines which cases will require an autopsy or visual examination

• Performs medicolegal autopsies in accordance with accepted standards in the recognized medical specialty of forensic pathology
• Orders and interprets necessary diagnostic tests to aid in the diagnosis of disease and non-natural pathology, understands the effects of postmortem interval on laboratory test results, and determine the cause and manner of death
• Gives testimony as to the cause of death and renders expert opinions in a variety of legal forums, both criminal and civil
• Collects and preserves evidence using accepted chain of custody procedures
• Documents findings at autopsy including pertinent findings and traumatic injuries in the form of written reports and supporting photographs
• Consults with medical experts as necessary to aid in the determination of the cause of death
• Meets and/or confers with attorneys, law enforcement, and health professionals to discuss the autopsy findings and investigation
• Meets and/or speaks with families to discuss the results of the autopsy and the particulars of the death investigation and communicates with the media and other interested parties about the autopsy report
• Shares on-call responsibilities with other staff physicians, responds to homicide or other suspicious death scenes as requested by law enforcement or the Coroner's investigator, and consults in the release of organs and tissue for recovery by procurement agencies
• Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents, student interns, and others in the function of the Coroner and in forensic pathology
• Assists the Senior Medical Investigator in assessing the quality of services provided, helps ensure that staff and visitors conform with office and department safety policies at scenes and in the autopsy room, and assists in the development of office safety policies and in the development of office emergency preparedness plans
• Assists in collaborations with local, regional, and state law enforcement, and investigative, legal and medical agencies including public health

• Understands and interprets written material including technical material, notes, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables and applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
• Recognizes and uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, communicates information in a succinct and organized manner, and produces written information which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals, displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner, works with minimal supervision, is motivated to achieve, and demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Shows understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, and concern, develops and maintains relationships, may deal with people who are difficult, hostile, and/or distressed, relates well to people from varied backgrounds and situations, and is sensitive to individual differences.
• Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively taking into account the audience and nature of information, makes clear and convincing presentations, listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately
• Is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workplace.

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an approved school of medicine plus completion of residency training approved by the American Board of Pathology, and board certification in Anatomic or Anatomic/Clinical Pathology is required at the time of application.
• Must have completed Forensic Pathology fellowship training at the time of appointment. Must be eligible to sit for the Forensic Pathology Boards at the time of appointment. See statutory requirements below.

• This class assists in the operations and activities of the County Coroner including the investigation and evaluation of deaths within the County that fall under jurisdiction of the Coroner, planning for the office, and the development and execution of policies, procedures, and performance criteria for office operations.
• By Colorado State Statute (C.R.S. 30-10-606.5), all coroner jurisdiction/forensic autopsies must be performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist. Therefore, M.D./D.O. degree with American Board of Pathology certification in Anatomic or Anatomic/Clinical Pathology is required at the time of application. Must have completed Forensic Pathology fellowship training and be eligible to sit for the Forensic Pathology boards at the time of appointment. By statute, board certification in forensic pathology is required within 4 years of completion of fellowship; office policy requires ABP board certification in forensic pathology within 2 years of hire.
• Must possess a license to practice medicine in the State of Colorado at the time of appointment (or demonstrate eligibility for licensure with the application process initiated).

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR), background check and drug screen.

• Will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check
• Successful completion of bi-annual Colorado Justice Information System (CJIS) training.
• Incumbents must be available for emergency events and available to work on-call as needed including evenings, holidays and weekends.

• Hazards: Conditions where there is danger to life, body, and/or health.
• Contact with the deceased persons under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Exposed to infection from disease-bearing specimens.
• Exposed to infections and contagious diseases
• Exposed to risk of blood borne diseases.
• Exposed to unpleasant elements (accidents, injuries, and illness).
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• Occasionally exposed to radiation hazards.
• Subject to long, irregular hours.
• Subject to many interruptions.
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations including grieving and potentially unstable individuals.

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling over.
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination: Performing work through using two or more.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects by means of skin receptors.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingers.
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, or otherwise working with hand(s).
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds through hearing.
• Reaching: Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motions: Making frequent movements with a part of the body.
• Sitting: Remaining in the normal sitting position.
• Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words.
• Lifting: Raising or lowering of an object.
• Accommodation: Ability to adjust vision to bring objects into focus.
• Color Vision: Ability to identify and distinguish colors of objects.
• Depth Perception: Ability to judge distance and space relationships.
• Far Acuity: Ability to see clearly at 20 feet or more
• Field of Vision: Ability to see peripherally.
• Near Acuity: Ability to see at 20 inches or less.
• Spends 60% of the time sitting and 40% of the time either standing or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 100+ lbs.
• Uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 125+ lbs.
• Occasionally stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, etc.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work related equipment.

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (i.e. uploading or attaching documents to your online application), call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627. Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt uploading (attaching) it.