Ten-Part Webinar Series
When:
Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ETTuesday, April 15th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), in collaboration with the National Network of Public Health Institute (NNPHI) and the Public Health Institute (PHI), is pleased to announce a new symposium series focusing attention on improvements to accuracy and consistency in recording cause and manner of death in drug toxicity cases. We invite medicolegal death investigation professionals to a free, CME and CE eligible ten-part series focusing on the latest challenges and best practices in the investigation and certification of these often-complex cases. This is the latest in a multi-year program to share best practices, expand our understanding of these deaths, reach new audiences, and stay current with the continuing drug overdose crisis in the U.S.
Emerging factors driving current patterns in drug overdose mortality include the complex and variable supply of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and the development and proliferation of other drug classes including novel benzodiazepines, cathinone stimulants, hallucinogens, and adulterants such as xylazine, medetomidine, and various other novel synthetic opioids.
Presentations in this series feature panels of complementary perspectives on key topics from recognized experts in forensic pathology, medicolegal death investigation and toxicology, as well as adjacent fields such as epidemiology, public health, and medical toxicology. Consistent with prior series, the focus is on understanding the most appropriate ways to recognize, identify, and document drug involvement when conducting death investigations, and ensure consistent certification and reporting of these cases to maintain an accurate picture of drug involved deaths in the United States.
The content, expert presenters, and presentation dates for the series include:
Webinar 1 - Review of the Three-legged stool of Drug Death Investigation and Certification: Scene, Autopsy and Toxicology
WHEN: APRIL 1, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Erin Worrell, MS, D-ABMDI, Deputy Chief of Investigations at Franklin County Forensic Science Center, Columbus, OH
- Dr. Francisco Diaz, MD, OCME Washington DC
- Dr. Laura Labay, PhD, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Webinar 2 - The Current Status of Fentanyl and Novel Synthetic Opioid Deaths in The United States
WHEN: APRIL 15, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
- Dr. Jason Graham, Chief Medical Examiner, NYC OCME, NY
- Dr. Luke Rodda, PhD, Assistant Adjunct Professor, UCSF; Chief Forensic Toxicologist and Director, Forensic Laboratory Division, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Dr. Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT, CFSRE President, Horsham, PA
Webinar 3 - The Challenge of Investigation, Toxicological Analysis and Certification of Poly-Drug Deaths
WHEN: APRIL 29, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Gail Cooper, PhD, NYC OCME, NY
- Dr. Aaron Shapiro, PhD, Associate Scientific Director of Toxicology at BC Centre for Disease Control
- Dr. Tom Gilson, MD, Cuyahoga County, Chief Medical Examiner, OH
Webinar 4 - 2024 Year in Review of Novel Psychoactive Substances involved Deaths
WHEN: MAY 6, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Alex Krotulski, PhD, CFSRE, Horsham, PA
- Dr. Kayla Ellefson, PhD, Austin TX
- Dr. Darinka Mileusnic, MD, Knoxville, TN
Webinar 5 - The Continuing Challenges of Resourcing Medicolegal Death Investigation in Rural and Under-Resourced Jurisdictions
WHEN: MAY 27, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Erin Linde, Omaha, NE
- Dr. Deland Weyrauch, MD, Medical Examiner's Office, MT
- Dr. Kent Harshbarger, MD, Montgomery County Coroner, OH
Webinar 6 - Overdose Fatality Review Teams– Linking MDI to Public Health Outcomes
WHEN: JUNE 3, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Reade Quinton, MD, Mayo Clinic, MN
- Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
- Dr. Mallory O’Brien, PhD, Associate Scientist, Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Webinar 7 - Ketamine – An Old Drug with New Uses, its Proliferation, and Potential for Involvement in Drug Deaths
WHEN: JUNE 24, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Joey Palamar, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health, NY
- Dr. Kari Midthun, PhD, F-ABFT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
- Dr. James Gill, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, OCME, CT
Webinar 8 - Opioid Overdose Deaths in the Emergency Room: Naloxone and Other Interventions – Factors that impact Emergency Care Outcomes
WHEN: JULY 8, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Lewis Nelson, MD, Florida Atlantic University, FL
- Dr. Jess Kent, MD, St. Michael's Hospital, Ontario, Canada
- Dr. Owen Middleton, MD, Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office, MN
- Dr. Dan Isenschmid, PhD, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Webinar 9 - Involvement of Synthetic Cannabinoids and Other Drugs Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths among Persons in Jail/Prison
WHEN: JULY 15, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Cook County, IL
- Dr. Ted Browne, MD, OCME, AR
- Sara Walton, MS, CFSRE, Horsham, PA
- Dr. Justin Wilks, MD, Cook County Sheriffs Office, IL
Webinar 10 - Stimulant Intoxication: Effects and Involvement in Cause and Manner of Death 2025
WHEN: JULY 30, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET
PRESENTERS:
- Dr. Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT, CFSRE President, Horsham, PA
- Dr. Timothy Wiegand, MD, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at URMC Rochester, NY
- Dr. Michelle Jordan, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Santa Clara County, CA
