From Trainee to Expert: The Forensic Pathology Fellowship Year and Beyond

Abstract

Forensic pathology fellowship provides a year-long opportunity for trainees to learn proper medicolegal death investigation, including the performance of forensic autopsies, which differ greatly from hospital-based autopsies. In contrast to hospital-based autopsies, forensic autopsies are only one component of the overall case investigation that often require the careful consideration of many other factors, including the circumstances in which the body was found, the characterization of traumatic injury, the interpretation of toxicology findings, and integration of investigative information. During fellowship training in forensic pathology, the fellow continually improves their dissecting skills, and refines their investigative prowess. It is during this time that the fellow develops a better understanding of what investigative information is needed, and how that information should be sought out and eventually integrated into the case database. The fellow develops an appreciation of how to exclude irrelevant or misleading information, and how to carefully synthesize relevant information in order to arrive at the best cause and manner of death. Although the learning curve is greatest during fellowship training and during the first few years of practice, the learning process never ends–-it continues throughout one's professional career. In summary, the fellowship year in forensic pathology is an opportunity to expand upon one's baseline fund of medical knowledge, improve one's physical skills, and to develop appropriate cognition as to what constitutes a proper medicolegal death investigation. It is a formulative year that sets the groundwork, and shapes how one will practice and continue to learn throughout one's career.