Assistant Professor - Pathology

Job Summary

The Department of Pathology, East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, is looking for a forensic pathologist at the William L. Jenkins Forensic Center.

The William L. Jenkins Forensic Center (WUFC) is a N.A.M.E.-accredited facility sited on the beautiful James H. Quillen College of Medicine Campus. A complete support staff is in place with five ABMDI-certified medicolegal death investigators, four autopsy technicians, and full administrative support. An excellent benefits package is provided, and there is no state income tax. The Center is responsible for performing approximately 700 forensic examinations a year for the eight counties in upper Northeast Tennessee.

This is a non-tenure track faculty position at the assistant professor level in the Department of Pathology at East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine, with a direct report to the Chair of Pathology.

The County Medical Examiner is required by law to investigate all deaths involving a homicide, suspected homicide, suicide, a violent, unnatural, or suspicious death, an unexpected apparent natural death in an adult, sudden unexpected infant and child deaths, deaths believed to represent a threat to public health or safety, and executed prisoners. (Tenn. Code Ann.§ 38-7-106)

 Duties Include:

• Perform autopsies for an eight-county population of 512,260, with approximately 25 homicide cases per year. The forensic center also performs autopsies for affiliated teaching hospitals, approximately 20 cases per year.
• Perform Medical Examiner duties for four of the eight counties served.
• Complete reports within guidelines established by NAME. Maximum 60-day timeframe for completing cases.

As part of regular duties, the successful candidate is expected to:

• Educate residents and medical students.
• Support medical student/resident education and research within the center
• Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to spend a proportion of their effort on scholarly activities and didactic teaching in support of the educational mission of the department of pathology.
• Promote process/quality improvement initiatives within the center.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
• Must be able to lift, move, push, and pull 50 lbs. or more to perform forensic duties.
• Availability to work Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM as needed, with some on-call coverage for the Forensic Center/County Medical Examiner, including limited scene response.
• Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodations. 

Required Qualifications

• The applicant must be board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, or Anatomic Pathology, at the time of hire.
• The applicant must be eligible for a Tennessee medical license at the time of hire and must obtain a valid license before the start date.

Preferred Qualifications 

• ABPath certification in Forensic Pathology at the time of hire is preferred; however, board eligibility will also be considered.
• Additional expertise in Pediatric Pathology, Neuropathology, or another relevant subspecialty is desirable, though not required. 

Physical Demands

• Above-average physical strength is required to perform essential forensic duties.
• Typical work hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, as needed, with occasional on-call coverage for the Forensic Center/County Medical Examiner, including limited scene response.  

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary - $300,000, if board-certified in forensic pathology
• Benefits – please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.

Application Instructions 

• Exempt positions are required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days.
• Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
• Please attach the following: Cover Letter, CV, and Transcripts.

ETSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer

University Overview 

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students enrolled in highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution's mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement. 

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position's essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.