Faculty - Forensic Pathologist

inquiry. In 2024, our office investigated over 4,800 deaths, and we performed over 1,600 postmortem examinations. We are committed to creating a workplace that provides work-life balance and allows you to pursue your academic interests. Salaries are very competitive and are based on academic rank and years of service. For additional information about our office, visit our website at mimedicalexaminer.com.

Highlights:

• NAME Accredited.
• Medical Examiner for 13 Michigan counties and consultant for several additional area counties in Michigan and Indiana.
• 330,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.
• Full-body digital x-ray imaging device and a mobile computed tomography (CT) scanner.
• On-site neuropathologies, anthropologists, toxicologists, and histology services.
• Toxicology testing through AXIS Forensic Toxicology, with short turnaround times.

Responsibilities:

• Perform forensic pathology, hospital autopsies, and conduct activities of a medical examiner practice.
• Interprets reports made by physicians, pathologists and toxicologists.
• Confers with medical and investigative personnel in making determinations as to the cause and circumstance of death.
• Consults with Law enforcement, the District Attorney, and attorneys in the preparation of court cases.
• Provide expert testimony and advise the Prosecutor’s Office in criminal proceedings relating to deaths.
• Prepares reports of findings.
• Participates in medical students' education through curriculum development and elective opportunities.
• Conduct research.
• Assists the Department Chair with National Association of Medical Examiners accreditation.
• Availability to work on weekends or evenings to complete time-sensitive projects.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Physician (MD or DO) with board certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology
• Board-certified/eligible with the American Board of Pathology in Forensic Pathology. 
• Candidates should be academically oriented, preferably with experience in medical education
• Licensure to practice in the state of Michigan.

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
 

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.

Questions and inquiries can be directed to Dr. Richard Vander Heide, Chair, Department Pathology at richard.vanderheide@wmed.edu; qualified applicants should apply online at www.wmed.edu (click on employment) or directly here.