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Tennessee WIC Operations in the Event of a Federal Government Shutdown

Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner (OSCME), operating under the Department of Health, is to create statewide consistency of high quality medicolegal death investigation and forensic autopsy services. The purpose of the office is to serve its fellow citizens by protecting the public’s health and safety, participating in the criminal justice system and providing data for vital statistics.

The Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner (OSCME) is responsible for the education and training of county medical examiners, the keeping of records of deaths investigated by county medical examiners, and assuming investigative authority in cases of interest to the state, including mass fatalities and threats to public health.  The central office located within the Tennessee Department of Health in Nashville is staffed by two full-time forensic pathologists and two death investigators who are available for consultation to the public, law enforcement, clinicians, and friends and family of the deceased. A satellite office located in Johnson City is staffed with one administrator and houses medical examiner records. 

Services Provided:

  • Educating and training County Medical Examiners and County Medical Examiner Investigators.
  • Keeping of records of deaths investigated by County Medical Examiners.
  • Assuming investigative authority in cases of interest to the state, including mass fatalities and threats to public health.
  • Supplying copies of autopsy reports and/or reports of investigation by county medical examiners to the public.  Autopsy Report Request Form (PDF)
  • Death certificates are issued by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Information for this office can be found at: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html.

Contact:

Julia C. Goodin, MD, MPA
State Chief Medical Examiner

Adele Lewis, MD
Deputy State Chief Medical Examiner

Margaret Hyder, MA
Deputy Director

Fran Wheatley, BS, MA, ABMDI - F
Medicolegal Investigator

Denise Martin, BS, MCJ, JD, ABMDI-D
Medicolegal Investigator

Lindsey Crim, BS, MCJ, ABMDI - F
Medicolegal Investigator

Bailey Floyd, BS
Administrative Services Assistant

Main Office – Nashville

Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner
Andrew Johnson Tower – 7th Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 844-860-4511
Fax: 615-401-2532

Health.OSCME@tn.gov

Satellite Office – Johnson City

Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner
William L. Jenkins Forensic Center
Box 70431
Johnson City, TN 37614
Telephone: 423-439-8403
Fax: 423-439-8810