Internship - Medical Examiner's Office - J88860 - 38900

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INTERNSHIP – MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE (This is an unpaid Intern position)

SUMMARY:   The Medical Examiner’s Office internship opportunity provides students with the opportunity to work in unique, challenging, and rewarding environment. Interns will have the opportunity to work in the autopsy suite, along side death investigators, as well as assist with administrative, legal, and clerical support services.

Interns will have a variable schedule. The program will last between 6 and 12 weeks. This timeline may be adjusted to due specific educational program requirements as well as Medical Examiner’s Office needs.

This is an unpaid internship position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

FRONT OFFICE / ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Observational Learning

• Observes front office operations within the Medical Examiner’s Office.

• Observes intake of telephone calls.

• Observes administrative workflows.

• Observes interactions with funeral homes, law enforcement agencies, and the public.

Hands-On Support (Supervised)

• Assists with answering and routing incoming telephone calls under staff guidance.

• Assists with greeting visitors and directing them to appropriate personnel.

• Assists with basic data entry.

• Assists with scanning, filing, and organizing electronic and paper records.

• Assists with preparation of routine correspondence, forms, and reports.

• Assists with inventory tracking and ordering of office supplies.

• Assists with maintaining an organized and professional front office environment.

• Maintains confidentiality of all case-related and protected information.

DEATH INVESTIGATION UNIT:

Observational Learning

• Observes death investigation call intake and jurisdictional determination processes.

• Observes death scene investigations conducted by death investigators.

• Observes scene documentation, including photography, diagrams, and evidence handling.

• Observes interviews with witnesses, family members, law enforcement, and medical personnel.

• Observes death notification procedures and next-of-kin interactions.

• Observes coordination with law enforcement and other investigative agencies.

Hands-On Support (Supervised and as Appropriate)

• Assists with preparing investigative paperwork and documentation.

• Assists with compiling case information and medical records for investigator review.

• Assists with writing draft investigative summaries for review and approval.

• Assists with data entry.

• Assists with administrative follow-up tasks related to investigations.

Interns do not independently determine jurisdiction, conduct death notifications, or make case disposition decisions.

AUTOPSY TECHNICIAN:

Observational Learning

• Observes autopsy procedures conducted by forensic pathologists.

• Observes body intake, body identification, and release procedures.

• Observes specimen collection, labeling, and chain-of-custody practices.

• Observes use of x-ray, photography, and other diagnostic equipment.

• Observes proper use of PPE and infection control protocols.

Hands-On Support (Supervised and Task-Specific)

• Assists with preparing the autopsy suite prior to examinations.

• Assists with cleaning, decontamination, and organization of the morgue and equipment.

• Assists with transporting bodies and positioning decedents as directed.

• Assists with specimen packaging, labeling, and documentation under supervision.

• Assists with logging, tagging, and tracking of decedents and property.

• Assists with inventory of supplies, instruments, and evidence storage areas.

• Assists with administrative morgue duties such as filing and documentation.

• Assists with housekeeping duties in the autopsy and evidence storage areas.

Interns do not independently perform autopsies, handle controlled substances without supervision, or release bodies without authorization.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

• Work is primarily indoors with occasional outdoor exposure during supervised scene responses.

• Regular exposure to deceased individuals, including those in advanced stages of decomposition.

• Exposure to biohazardous materials, infectious dise