Curriculum

Our fellowship's foundation is day-to-day work in forensic pathology, including death investigation, communication with families and stakeholders, and forensic pathology case materials, including autopsy and ancillary studies.

There is a strong public health component to the training congruent with the role of forensic pathology in public health and surveillance.

See color-coded curriculum here

UND’s Forensic Pathology Fellowship is composed of 48 weeks, which allows for flexibility and easy schedule modification. The fellow is encouraged to participate in at least one regional/national meeting a year. This meeting is paid for by the program and counts toward one of the forty-eight weeks. The remaining weeks are allotted as stated in the curriculum (see curriculum example above.) Lectures will be provided by faculty and staff based on the curriculum block the fellow is currently in. Lectures on subjects of interest can be requested by the fellow to supplement additional learning. The forensic pathology fellow schedule and opportunities are:

1. The initial month will have a heavier period of on-boarding activities and lower clinical work. Obviously, there will be no “pending” cases for the fellow to monitor for histology, investigation notes, and toxicology.
   A. We plan for an additional 4 hours during the first three weeks for one-on-one instruction on report writing, computer log-ins, professional expectations, scholarly expectations, and general orientation.
   B. There is a mandated UND Human Resources on-boarding for HIPAA, bloodborne pathogen training, and standard HR protocols (payroll, lifting, slips/falls, ergonomic work practices, fraud/abuse, Title IX, policies and procedures, etc.).
2. There is a daily (M–F) morning meeting where cases for the day are discussed. This generally takes ~30 minutes and starts at 8:15 a.m. (orange code).

3. There is one afternoon per week devoted to quality review and education (orange codes). Currently, there is a peer-review of cases from 2-5 p.m. each Thursday with Forensic Pathologists in Grand Forks. The fellow participates in this meeting, giving exposure to a wider variety of cases.

4. Thursday at 1 p.m. features a conference for fellow education in Forensic Science, Neuropath, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Odontology, and Forensic Anthropology. Activities and topics fill the year.
   A. During the first four weeks, there will be an introductory Zoom lecture session for each of the off-site consultants (forensic laboratory, MN BCA; Neuropathology (TBA, likely Northwestern University), Forensic Odontology, Dr. Ann Norrlander; Toxicology, Milwaukee lab; and Forensic Anthropology, Dr. Jessica Campbell. This allows the fellows to “meet” individuals who will be performing key portions of various examinations.
   B. Following these 4 introductory weeks, lectures begin with forensic science laboratory topics, delivered by the forensic scientists at the Minn. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) (blue). This laboratory will also process all Minn. crime scene materials so fellows may contact them on individual cases.

5. The Thursday noon conference is casual, with lunch optional, is presented by FP faculty on general forensic pathology topics and interpretive toxicology (yellow codes, forensic; green-yellow – toxicology interpretation). This goes year-long and is repeated each year. Study material is available for these sessions prior to discussion, which ideally is case-focused.

6. An optional off-site basic ballistic training (gun types, firing, handling) will be offered at the police range for fellows without firearms experience (purple).

7. A blood splatter workshop / lectures will be presented by Dr. Kevin Whaley, a certified blood splatter analysis instructor (purple).

8. The last month has a reduced clinical load, assuming the required autopsy numbers are met. This month is used to finalize cases and to attend “hands on” workshop training in forensic sciences, anthropology, entomology, and odontology. Entomology is done at UND; Forensic science at BCA labs in Bemidji, Minn. (2-hour drive; housing available). Rotations at the Milwaukee Toxicology lab (40 hours) are available (see original support letter). The forensic odontologist and anthropologist may come to UND for hands-on training or alternatively the fellows may go to their site in Minn.

Estimated hours in the 12-month training

• 48 Weeks in the table
• 1 Week for Professional meeting (at UND expense; expectation to present poster/platform)
• 3 weeks personal leave per UND GME contract

(Vacation / Sick Day hours via UND: 120)

Full Forensic PAthology Fellowship Manual