Specialized Forensic Toxicology, Pathology and Certification

of Drug Related Death for Forensic Pathologists: 2022

This event originally occurred on May 25th - 26th, 2022 from 12pm – 4pm (EST) each day. All presentations and material have been archived for you to access as On-Demand content.

Module III

This is an advanced course designed specifically for forensic pathologists and toxicologists with moderate to extensive experience in medicolegal death investigation casework. It is recommended that Module II “The Evaluation and Certification of Drug Caused and Related Deaths for Forensic Pathologists, Toxicologists and Death Investigators” be completed prior to taking this course (see above). The main topics covered will include expert level review of the current analytical approaches and workflows employed in the postmortem laboratory such as immunoassay and mass spectrometry, and interpretation of toxicology results for specialized circumstances to include drug-delivery-resulting-in-death (“but-for”), drug use with restraint, hospital, and pediatric and palliative care deaths, exhumations, US Drug early warning systems, and other emergent topics.




The CFSRE is pleased to offer this extensive three-module series on Investigation and certification of drug related deaths. The series is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI). Registration is FREE to qualified registrants, and places are limited. This series of learning modules has been designed to complement existing resources for drug related death investigation, toxicological interpretation, and death certificate completion, as well as an overview of how medical examiner and coroner data is used for public health surveillance purposes.

There are three total modules structured as outlined below. Each module will include a summary/application section covering background and introduction, key concepts, and practical lessons-learned including casework experience examples.

The content will be provided by an outstanding roster of experts in death scene investigation, forensic pathology, and forensic toxicology, drawn from leading coroner and medical examiner offices and forensic laboratories across the United States.

Registrants can register for all or selected modules based on their experience and professional development needs.

* Medical and professional continuing education credits and approvals (up to 32 hours) have been applied for.

Organizing Committee:

• Barry Logan PhD, F-ABFT, Forensic Toxicologist (Chair, CFSRE, PA),
• Laura Labay PhD, F-ABFT, D-ABCC-TC, Forensic Toxicologist (Co-Chair, CFSRE PA)
• MJ Menendez JD, Chair, NAME Workforce Development Committee (NMS Labs)
• Brandi McCleskey MD, Forensic Pathologist, (Jefferson Co/UAB, AL)
• Stephanie Powers MD, Forensic Pathologist, (Cook County OME, IL)
• Erin Worrell, D-ABMDI (Denver County, CO)

Funding for this training was made possible by a cooperative agreement between the National Network of Public Health Institutes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [6 NU38OT000303-03-02]. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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