Length: 3-month autopsy rotation, additional optional 2-month elective in forensic pathology
OMI website: http://omi.unm.edu/
As a resident in the first two years of training, you will spend a total of 3 months at the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI). The autopsy rotation will first concentrate on performing hospital-based autopsies, which include those from University Hospital, the VA, and community hospitals from around the state. These cases allow for a focus on the pathophysiology of disease processes and gross and histologic autopsy pathology. The patient population at these various medical centers provides a diverse spectrum of disease processes, including infectious diseases, neoplasms, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, intra-uterine fetal demises, natural infant deaths, and postoperative and procedural-related deaths. These are consented autopsies, where residents are expected to provide accurate and timely documentation of communications with the family members and clinicians involved in the case. The autopsy rotation will also involve forensic cases that have the potential for natural disease, such as unattended deaths at home that may be due to natural disease processes, or some other unknown accidental manner, such as drug overdose. On the autopsy rotation, the resident will be exposed to different types of autopsy techniques, practice and learn the two main evisceration methods, and be responsible for workup and diagnosis of their cases under the supervision of an attending pathologist.
The forensic pathology elective will be offered after a resident has completed the autopsy rotation, for residents interested in more exposure to forensic pathology. This rotation will further introduce a spectrum of forensic cases. These vary somewhat depending on the resident’s interests and ability but may include unexpected natural deaths, drug and alcohol-related deaths, suicidal hangings, suicidal gunshot wounds, and motor vehicle accidents. In these cases, the residents are expected to gather death scene information from OMI investigators and may attend death scenes as a component of the rotation. Residents are expected to be the contact person for families, law enforcement, and medical providers who may seek information regarding the death for their cases.
All residents will have the opportunity to complete the necessary autopsy requirements for board examination during the autopsy rotation. Most residents easily complete between 30-50 autopsies prior to graduation, without the addition of the elective rotation. We have enough volume for residents to complete their own autopsies without sharing cases. Some highlights of this rotation include a busy teaching service with a wide diversity of cases; numerous forensic conferences including neuropathology, difficult case conference; and microscopic unknowns where residents are active participants in case discussions. Residents will utilize an electronic report and charting system, gain exposure to digital photography and digital radiography, including routine use of computed tomography. The OMI also supports four fellows in forensic pathology each year, which increases the resident’s exposure to teaching opportunities, such as specialists in forensic odontology and radiology. The high daily case volume provides ample opportunities for residents and fellows to select appropriate cases and to gain exposure to a wide variety of topics in autopsy and forensic medicine.
