Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, are specially trained physicians who examine the bodies of people who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently. A forensic pathology practitioner will ...

Have a question for Mikeie Reiland, MFA or our other editors? Ask here for a chance to be featured in a story. Submit your question This form is protected by ...

They specialize in determining the causes of sudden, unexpected or violent deaths. But according to the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. is facing a critical shortage of these professionals.

For many people, forensic pathology seems forbidding and dark. It deals intimately with death, crime, and disaster and is most often represented through the artifice of television shows and movies.

"While that is part of our role, the scope of forensic pathology goes far beyond autopsy examinations," Dr. Folkerth continued. "In addition to performing the final diagnostic evaluation of a person ...

Forensic pathologists also contribute to accurate public health vital statistics, which are required for the tracking of disease and the allocation of government funds. They work mostly behind the ...