Death investigation in New Mexico is a statewide system. The Office of the Medical Investigator is located on the campus of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the city of Albuquerque. This arrangement ensures the state is provided with excellent facilities in death investigation as well as affording outstanding educational and research opportunities in forensic pathology.
It is in this fertile environment that the forensic pathology fellow conducts a substantial number of medicolegal autopsies on routine and unusual cases from around the state and is given substantial control of cases (natural, accidental, suicidal and homicidal) at all levels, commensurate with their increasing ability.
We are currently accepting applications for fellowship year 2026 – 2027. Our program participates in the MATCH for fellowship selection through NMRP. Applicants must register with NMRP during the application process for consideration. Notification of selection for interview, and interviews will take place in beginning in October 2024. The dates for the 2025 Forensic Pathology Fellowship Match for 2026 appointment are:
The forensic pathology specialty is joining the ERAS July fellowship program cycle beginning with the 2025 season for fellowship positions that will start in July 2026. More information about this specialty is available on the 2025 ERAS Participating Specialties and Programs webpage.
Training during the year includes rotations in toxicology, forensic odontology, forensic anthropology, and the state and local crime labs. The trainee is afforded the opportunity to testify in court, under supervision and direction, and is also encouraged to witness testimony by others who are experienced in courtroom dialogue.
The Office of the Medical Investigator is a state of the art facility with in house computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Postmortem CT scans are performed on the majority of decedents and are interpreted by a board certified forensic radiologist. Trainees will have in depth exposure to radiology interpretation under the guidance of our forensic radiologist.
In this system, consultations are presented to all of the senior pathologists for review and advice. The trainee is allowed to actively participate in these interesting consultations. In addition to the case-by-case instruction, the trainee will be involved in didactic teaching and should be a participant in the annual Medicolegal Investigation of Death seminar conducted each year for investigators and law enforcement personnel.
The OMI program provides one year of in-depth training in forensic pathology, and applicants must have completed training in either straight anatomic or combined clinical and anatomic pathology in an ACGME-accredited residency program by the beginning of the fellowship year.
The Office of the Medical Investigator accepts four fellows per academic year and is currently participating in the NRMP MATCH. Applicants are selected for interviews following review of their completed application materials and letters of recommendation, completed through the electronic residency application service (ERAS). The interview process usually takes place in October-January and follows the MATCH timelines.
Anthony Cervantes
Administrative Officer
Phone: (505) 925-6650
Degree: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
AP/CP: University of New Mexico
Degree: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
AP/CP: University of New Mexico
Degree: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
AP/CP: University of New Mexico
Degree: University of Queensland, Ochsner Clinical School
AP/CP: Stanford Health Care
Kristan Abernathy, MD
Degree: MD from University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
AP/CP: University of Virginia
Allison Hade, DO
Degree: DO from Des Moines University
AP/CP: University of New Mexico
Cassie MacRae, MD
Degree: MD from Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland)
AP/CP: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
David Negrete, MD
Degree: MD from Loma Linda University School of Medicine
AP/CP: Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Audra A. Kerwin, MD
Degree: MD from University of New Mexico School of Medicine
AP/CP Residency: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Brittany R. DePasquale, MD
Degree: MD from State University of New York Upstate Medical University
AP/CP Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Kimberly M. Johnson, MD
Degree: MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine
AP/CP: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Harley D. Schainost, MD
Degree: MD from University of Kansas School of Medicine
AP/CP: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Natalie E. Taylor, MD
Degree: MD from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health
AP/CP: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Daniel F. Gallego, MD
Degree: MD from Universidad del Valle, Colombia
AP/CP Residency: University of Washington
Michael W. Harrell, MD
Degree: MD from Case Western Reserve University
AP/CP Residency: University of New Mexico, Department of Pathology
Aidan P. Kerr, MD
Degree: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
AP/CP Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Jolee T. Suddock, DO
Degree: DO from Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Sciences
AP/CP Residency: University of New Mexico, Department of Pathology
Carolin Boecking, MD
Degree: MD from Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Germany
AP/CP Residency: University of California, San Francisco
Emily Helmrich, DO
Degree: Master of Medical Science from the University of South Florida
DO from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
AP/CP Residency: The University of New Mexico, Department of Pathology
Zoe Sundell, MD
Degree: MD from Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Transitional Intern and AP/CP Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center
Paul Yell, MD
Degree: MD From UT Houston (McGovern) Medical School
AP/CP Residency: UT Southwestern
Nicole Jackson, MD, MPH
Ben Murie, DO
Catherine Nika, MD
Karen Zeigler, DO
Henry McNett, MD
Lindsay Taute, MD
Andrew Guajardo, MD
Christopher Liverman, MD, PhD
Anne Hoffa, MD
Mark Giffen, DO
Rebecca Asch-Kendrick, MD
Lauren Edelman, MD
Lauren Decker, MD
Kacy Krehbiel, MD
Contact OMI
Phone: 505-272-3053
Main Fax: 505-925-0546
General e-mail: hsc-omi-feedback@salud.unm.edu
Request for witness testimony
omijudicial@salud.unm.edu
Hours
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Media Relations
Chris Ramirez, MPA
UNM – HSC Communications Manager