February 18, 2022
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Deidre McCabe, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-3536
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Maryland Post Mortem Examiners Commission announces Dr. Pamela E. Southall as Maryland’s interim Chief Medical Examiner
Baltimore, MD ‒ The Maryland Post Mortem Examiners Commission (PMEC) today announced that Dr. Pamela E. Southall will serve as Maryland’s new interim Chief Medical Examiner. Dr. Southall replaces Dr. Victor Weedn, effective immediately.
The Post Mortem Examiners Commission welcomes Dr. Southall and looks forward to her leadership at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) during a critical time. The Commission thanks Dr. Victor Weedn for his service to the state and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.
The OCME is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death if a person is not under the care of a physician, or if the death is unexpected or occurs under suspicious or unusual circumstances. The OCME assists with criminal investigations when a death is determined to have been a homicide and serves a critical public health role by identifying lethal injury trends and infectious diseases that may pose a risk to Marylanders.
In her new role, Dr. Southall will lead the office's efforts to review caseloads and work begun by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to recruit forensic pathologists and secure additional resources for the office while maintaining efficient operations.
During the past year, MDH and the PMEC have secured funding to upgrade the OCME’s facilities, increase cold storage capacity, purchase new equipment, and add staff at increased salary levels.
In recent weeks, MDH has also coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance from additional pathology professionals.
Dr. Southall will oversee a staff of over 100 skilled professionals, including deputy and assistant medical examiners, toxicologists, autopsy assistants, and others.
The PMEC is established by Maryland law and is responsible for employing and operating the OCME. The five appointed commissioners include representatives of the Baltimore City Health Department, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Maryland State Police, and MDH.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.
