Medical Student
Forensics is a young field or niche in emergency medicine (EM). With that, there are a few tasks a student can complete to illustrate interest and learn more about career opportunities.
During MS3/MS4 Year
- Seek Mentorship: While there are few programs with forensic-focused faculty in EM, there are ways to be involved with forensic medicine while a medical student. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Forensic Medicine Section, for example, is an active membership that meets each year at the ACEP annual meeting. Students can join the section and have access to mentors in the field.
- Shadow Mentors: If your hospital has a forensic emergency physician, forensic pathologist, or sexual assault nurse examiner, ask if you can shadow their work day.
- Rotations: Students interested in clinical forensics can schedule electives at several institutions including the State Medical Examiner's Office or any forensic psychiatry rotations offered at participating Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) programs.
- Involvement and Conference Participation: Students interested in forensics should seek out training with and possible certifications as a sexual assault nurse examiner. Students may also be able to arrange the following activities:
- A ride-along with law enforcement or with local/state evidence response teams.
- Attend the Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Forensic Science.
Residency Programs
There are no definitive answers or determined benefits on whether to choose a three- or four-year EM residency in regards to a career in clinical forensics. However, a four-year program does allow for more elective rotations in residency to further explore forensic medicine opportunities.
Most emergency programs, regardless of community or academic designation, have some degree of forensic operations including sexual assault nurse examiners or hospital committees devoted to child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and other forensic-related issues. Academic programs or trauma centers with forensic departments will usually offer more opportunities than a community program.
Insider Advice
"Forensics touches emergency physicians in many ways from SANE, child abuse, elder abuse, trauma, police-involved shootings, and human trafficking. Emergency physicians do a great job taking care of the medical needs of the patient, but forensics is equally important in obtaining justice for an afflicted individual. All emergency physicians should have a baseline knowledge of forensics or forensic tasks and procedures, as well as preservation of potential evidence."
-Ralph Riviello, MD
