Pathology Education & Training

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The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences offers opportunities for medical students and residents to learn about the practice of forensic pathology and the death investigation process through two programs: Medical Student Education and Forensic Pathology Resident Training. A medical subspecialty program for pathologists is also available. The Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program is a one-year intensive post-residency training. Click here to learn more about the fellowship program.

For more information, contact one of the following:

Training Development Coordinator
Pathology Coordinator
(832) 927-5111
IFSCourtCoordinator@ifs.hctx.net
Pathology Residency
Program Director
Ana.Lopez@ifs.hctx.net

The Institute of Forensic Sciences serves as a teaching center for training in the field of forensic sciences. Students and residents from Baylor Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and The Methodist Hospital are among the many educational institutions that encourage medical students and residents to rotate through the Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The Institute houses both the Medical Examiner’s office and the crime laboratories for Harris County, Texas – the third most populous county in the United States. This unique arrangement affords students access to multiple forensic disciplines and expertise, including:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Forensic Investigation
  • Forensic Photography
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Forensic Neuropathology
  • Entomology
  • Histology
  • Forensic Emergency Management
  • Forensic Genetics
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Firearms Identification
  • Drug Chemistry
  • Trace Evidence
Exposure to these various forensic disciplines provides the medical student or resident with a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary learning environment. To learn more about the Institute, click here.
Medical Student Education Program – Forensic Pathology Elective


Medical students may choose to complete a one-month Forensic Pathology Elective at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to gain exposure to the forensic death investigation process, both from a medicolegal and a clinical standpoint. The rotation will primarily be observational experiences where students will observe Harris County medical examiners perform forensic autopsies in various types of death, including natural, accidental, suicide and homicide manners. Students participating in the elective also have the opportunity to attend death scenes under the supervision of forensic investigators in order to further their understanding of the importance and limitations of the autopsy examination, the scene and the circumstantial evidence. In addition, students may spend time in the various forensic laboratory disciplines available at the Institute.

This elective is regularly offered at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine. An abbreviated one-day rotation is routinely offered to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston medical students during their surgical rotation. One month rotations may be arranged for students at any of these medical schools and for students in various other in-state and out-of-state schools.

Medical students interested in completing an elective with the Institute should apply for the Forensic Pathology Elective through their school’s program coordinator.

Forensic Pathology Resident Training Program

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Participation in the Forensic Pathology Resident Training Program at the Institute of Forensic Sciences is open to current trainees already enrolled in an Anatomic Pathology residency program. The program is designed to provide residents with an understanding of the death investigation process, both from a medicolegal and clinical standpoint. To accomplish this, residents have the opportunity to observe and perform forensic autopsies under the supervision of Harris County medical examiners and to attend death scenes under the supervision of forensic investigators. A Texas medical license is required for any resident to participate actively in performing a forensic autopsy examination.

In addition, the resident will spend time in the various forensic laboratory disciplines available at the Institute. At the conclusion of the program, residents are equipped with an understanding of the role, importance and limitations of the autopsy examination and the significance of scene, circumstantial and other ancillary evidence.

Residents interested in training at the Institute, should apply for the Forensic Pathology Resident Training Program through their school’s program coordinator.