Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma 1

Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma

Shalynn F. Cloud

Northern Oklahoma College

Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma 2

Abstract

Medical Examiners take great responsibilities and time in investigating human life death.

Oklahoma has tons of great job opportunities for medical examiners. They started out in 1965 in

poor fundings. They overcame this issue and brought on great and better buildings, and

equipment for the state of oklahoma. The State of Oklahoma has a mission to protect the safety

and the health of oklahoma as a whole. They can do this through the investigations of deaths. I

believed this job would be perfect for many for many reasons. I have worked along side of the

OBSI many times. This would be perfect for me for financial reasons due to the low living costs.

I have done many internships along the way of earning my degree.

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Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma

Research is a job seekers secret weapon in finding out a potential employers needs.

While researching for my future career, I found a Forensic Pathologist position for the State of

Oklahoma that I would be interested in submitting my application. I recently was accepted into

the Forensic Science program at the University Of Central Oklahoma and will attend there in the

fall of this year. For this NOC English project, I will write my cover letter and resume as if I

have graduated UCO and ready to seek potential employment.

The ​Office of the Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma has the sole responsibility

for investigating sudden, violent, unexpected and suspicious deaths. ​(Ok Gov)​ Their mission is

“The mission of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is to protect the public health and

safety of Oklahomans through the scientific investigation of deaths as defined by state statutes.

(Ok Gov)​ This process involves scene investigation and medicolegal autopsy (including

radiology, toxicology, histology, and microbiology) complementing the activities of law

enforcement agencies, district attorneys and public health officials and we accept the

responsibility with integrity, diligence and compassion in order to best assist and provide

answers to families, law enforcement and taxpayers of this state.​” ​ ​(Ok Gov)

This office came into being in 1961. In 1975, the Oklahoma Public Employees

Association was created to protect and improve state employees.(OPEA) They make sure state

employees receive good pay raises and benefits, health insurance, job security and retirement.

Because of a leaky roof and poor equipment, it lost its national accreditation and had to open an

new facility in October, 2017 under the direction of Governor Fallin. (Jessica Bruno) "I can still

remember taking office and being told one of the first things we're going to figure out how to
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solve is how do we accreditate the ME's office and, by the way, governor, we have a really big

problem with the facility we have,” Fallin said. (Jessica Bruno) That all changed with the help of

Governor Fallin. (Jessica Bruno) And in 2017, it had 148 employees with a payroll of

$5,855,835. (State of Oklahoma)

Successful applicants for positions with the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations must

successfully complete a polygraph and thorough background investigation.(OPEA) In addition,

some positions require a complete drug screening and psychological evaluation.​(Amy Elliot, Ok

Gov)​ ​The OCME has two locations in Oklahoma, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.(Amy Elliot, Ok

Gov) It serves a population of approximately 3.8 million people and is charged by state statute

with directing death investigations involving cases affecting the criminal justice and public

health systems.(Amy Elliot, Ok Gov) Last year it completed over 6,000 postmortem

examinations and issued over 15,000 cremation and out-of-state transport permits.(Amy Elliot,

Ok Gov) It is a national frontrunner in full body forensic radiography. (Amy Elliot, Ok Gov)

The position I would be applying for is at the Oklahoma City location. It is the ​second

largest city by land mass in the United States. It has a rapidly developing downtown and many

new choices for housing and restaurants. The cost of living is low compared to other cities in the

U.S.(Amy Elliot, Ok Gov) This location would be ideal for me because I would have already

been living in Edmond for four years, which is a suburb of Oklahoma City.

In conclusion, I believe working for the state of Oklahoma would be a good choice for

me, especially since I have already worked alongside the OSBI in my forensic science studies at

the University of Central Oklahoma. Overall, this position seems to be a good match for my

career goals and personal expectations.

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References

O. (n.d.). About OPEA | OPEA - Oklahoma's Public Employees Association. Retrieved

from https://opea.org/about-opea/

Bruno, J. (2017, October 26). Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office opens new facility.

Retrieved from

http://kfor.com/2017/10/26/oklahoma-medical-examiners-office-opens-new-facility/

Forensic Pathologist Jobs in Oklahoma City, OK. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/oklahoma-city-forensic-pathologist-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,13_IC1136

950_KO14,34.htm

Office Of The Chief Medical Examiner. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://oklahomawatchdata.org/state-salaries/342

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ok.gov/ocme/

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