Chief Medical Examiner

Job Posting End Date :

03-10-2025

Worker Sub-Type : Regular

Scheduled Weekly Hours :

Come work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!

Position Summary :

Marathon County, Wisconsin, is seeking a full-time Chief Medical Examiner to join their team. The county is transiting from a lay Medical Examiner's Office to a physician-led office in preparation for the July 2025 opening of a new $14.8 million, 20,000-square-foot facility located in a park-like setting on the Northcentral Technical College campus in Wausau, Wisconsin. Ideally, the position will begin prior to the facility's completion, allowing the Chief Medical Examiner to assist in developing departmental policies and procedures while planning for facility operations and its official opening.

The Chief Medical Examiner will lead a team of dedicated, collaborative professionals who are eager to actively participate in the transformation. The team includes an experienced Director of Operations, an Investigations Manager, and full-time Death Investigators, all of whom are ABMDI certified with extensive related experience. A second forensic pathologist has also accepted a position and is scheduled to begin in August 2025.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the office's transformation. The pathologists will perform autopsies for Marathon County, regional Coroner and Medical Examiner Offices, as well as the local health care systems. Autopsy case volume will be capped at 225-250 autopsy equivalency per pathologist at full operational capacity, in alignment with NAME autopsy performance standards. Before the facility is completed, the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a limited number of autopsies in a fully equipped autopsy suite at a local hospital. The office will also gradually transition to handling referral county cases, ensuring a smooth implementation and a solid foundation.

In addition to strong forensic pathology and leadership skills, the ideal candidate will have a passion for teaching and will support the office's mission to enhance regional education opportunities and improve death investigation standards. This role involves frequent opportunities to host autopsy observations for students, ranging from technical college attendees to medical students, and continuing education presentations to experienced professionals in related fields.

Marathon County is committed to fostering a workplace that promotes work-life balance and supports academic pursuits. An academic appointment at the Medical College of Wisconsin will be available, and the Chief Medical Examiner will be fully supported in accepting this role.

For more information on our organization and community, view our Chief Medical Examiner Brochure.

Examples of Work Performed :

The following duties are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.

I. Death Investigation Services

• Oversee all death investigations that occur within Marathon County's jurisdiction to ensure thorough, multidisciplinary investigation in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes and best practice standards. This includes scene investigation (at times scene response), autopsy, analysis of investigative data, and certification of death certificates. Through coordination with the Director of Operations, ensure that staff are appropriately trained and perform to expectations.
• Perform forensic autopsies for referral counties, occasional hospital medical autopsies, and at times private family autopsies.
• Consult with referral county coroner / medical examiners, judicial, law enforcement, and medical personnel regarding autopsy and investigation findings; explain causes of death to relatives of the deceased with the ability to show empathy, compassion, and sensitivity while working with the bereaved families and hearing their concerns.
• Complete and ensure preservation of physical and medical evidence and case records in accordance with professional standards, state laws and regulations, and NAME guidelines.
• Provide accurate and objective court testimony.
• Foster and maintain working relationships with outside agencies that the Medical Examiner's Office interacts with.
• Assist in preparing, organizing, and directing the response to disasters that require medical examiner involvement.
• Share on-call responsibility with other staff physicians; respond to homicide or other suspicious criminal or civil death scenes within Marathon County's jurisdiction per pathologist discretion.
• Responsible for promptly report communicable disease and other health threats found at autopsy to the Health Department and Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
• Keep up-to-date on developments, methods, and techniques in forensic pathology.

II. Administrative Duties

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Qualifications :

Must be a graduate of a medical school recognized by the American Medical Association or American Osteopathic Association. Licensed as a physician to practice medicine in the state of Wisconsin with an unrestricted license; or willing to obtain licensure to practice upon employment; or possess a valid temporary permit pending approval of application for Wisconsin licensure.

Board certification in anatomic or anatomic and clinical pathology is required at the time of hire. Three years of experience in forensic pathology, with leadership and teaching experience preferred, but not required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Must maintain all required licenses and accreditations consistent with the industry standards. Maintain individual continuing medical education and assures compliance with licensing and certification is a requirement of employment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS : Possession of or eligibility to obtain an unrestricted Wisconsin driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays on rare occasions.

Physical Requirements :

Compensation :

Selection Procedure :

Candidates moving forward in the selection process will undergo an extensive background / criminal investigation : verification of education and certifications, verification of employment record and reference checks, background / criminal check, and a driving record check. Candidates offered employment will be required to submit to and pass the post-offer assessments including a physical and back exam, drug screen, fingerprinting, and a psychological assessment that are paid for by Marathon County. All candidates will be notified as to the status of their application.

The candidate is subject to appointment by the Marathon County Administrator and approval of the Marathon County Board of Supervisors.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE : This position may involve occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Refer to the Marathon County Medical Examiner's Office Exposure Control Plan for more specific information. The position also falls under the Respiratory Care Policy, which includes the use of an N95 respirator and respiratory medical clearance.

Special Accommodations :

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

Notice to Applicants :

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record : Each applicant's application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information. If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law

Salary : $269,196 - $378,872