IU School of Medicine provides an ACGME-accredited fellowship in forensic pathology through its Department of Pathology and partnership with the Marion County Coroner’s Office. This training program fulfills the eligibility requirements of board certification and provides forensic pathology services to the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The Marion County Coroner’s office performed 4,799 death investigations and 1,812 examinations (945 full autopsies, 798 external, 69 partial) in 2022, encompassing a broad spectrum of both urban and rural cases. Multiple experienced and board certified forensic pathologists provide supervision, guidance, and support to fellows in this program.
Forensic fellows perform 200 to 250 autopsies of varying complexity per year. Consultation with a neuropathologist, a pediatric pathologist, a forensic anthropology department, and a forensic odontologist are available. Fellows spend time at the Indianapolis/Marion County Forensic Laboratory, the University of Indianapolis Anthropology Department, and the Axis Forensic Toxicology Laboratory. Fellows are allotted time and encouraged to perform a research project or write a paper for presentation at one of the two annual national forensic science meetings (NAME, AAFS). Fellows in this program also assist in teaching and giving lectures for medical students and pathology residents.
