AAFS 2026

Pre-Registration Required — $165

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Chair:
Krystal R. Hans, PhD
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

Co-Chair:
Kimberlee S. Moran, MSc
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ

Presenters:
Ryan Backmann
Project Cold Case
Jacksonville, FL

Leisa J. Nichols-Drew, MSc
De Montfort University
Leicester, England
United Kingdom

Charlie Shunick, MS
Delgado Community College/
Resource Association for Missing People
New Orleans, LA

Katie Wiggins, EdD
Uprooted: Where Healing is Planted
Jacksonville, FL

Program Description: This workshop introduces Trauma-Informed Pedagogy (TIP) as a critical and timely educational approach in forensic science education, where students are frequently exposed to distressing material such as crime scene imagery, autopsy reports, and cases involving violence or death.

Key Themes:

What is TIP?

• TIP recognizes how trauma affects learning and emphasizes emotional safety, empathy, and respect in the classroom alongside academic rigor.
• It's designed to support students' psychological well-being — especially those with prior trauma or at risk of secondary traumatic stress.
• Relevance to Forensic Science:
  • Forensic students often encounter emotionally intense material and may be more vulnerable to trauma.
  • TIP helps reduce retraumatization, encourages resilience, and fosters reflective and flexible teaching strategies (e.g., content warnings, varied assessments, open communication).
• Practical Implementation:
  • Educators trained in TIP can recognize signs of trauma, respond supportively, and create inclusive and psychologically safe learning environments.
  • Real-world examples will show how TIP has improved student outcomes in forensic programs.

Building Career Resilience:

• TIP prepares students for trauma-exposed careers by helping them identify distress, build coping strategies, and seek help.
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are emphasized as core professional competencies.

Long-Term Impact:

• TIP can boost student engagement, retention, and mental health.
• It promotes a cultural shift in forensic education — balancing technical excellence with emotional sustainability.
• Graduates are more likely to foster healthier workplaces and serve their communities with greater ethical awareness and resilience.

By embedding TIP in forensic science education, this workshop aims to produce emotionally resilient, ethically grounded, and professionally competent forensic practitioners — better equipped to face the psychological demands of their work and to support others in the process.

Learning Objectives: This workshop will provide attendees with a robust understanding of how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and vicarious trauma impact forensic science students during their education and career preparation, using real-life examples to highlight the limitations of traditional teaching approaches. Attendees will be introduced to Trauma-Informed Pedagogy (TIP) and learn practical strategies for applying TIP in classroom and laboratory settings to better support student well-being. Finally, attendees will examine how mental health and wellness are integrated into forensic science higher education in the United Kingdom. Attendees will leave with tools to create safer, more inclusive learning environments that foster resilience and emotional health.

Impact Statement: This workshop will enhance educators' competence by deepening their understanding of trauma and equipping them with trauma-informed teaching strategies tailored to forensic science students. By applying these strategies, educators can improve their performance in creating emotionally safe, supportive, and effective learning environments. Ultimately, this shift in educational practice will lead to better outcomes for students, including increased resilience in the workplace, reduced burnout, and a stronger, more ethically grounded forensic science workforce.

Target Audience: Anthropology, Criminalistics, Digital & Multimedia Sciences, Forensic Nursing Science, General, Pathology/Biology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
Paul S. Uribe, MD
Fort Bend County Medical Examiner Office
Richmond, TX

Co-Chair:
Tiffany A. Roy, JD, MSFS 
ForensicAid, LLC
Singer Island, FL

Presenters:
George F. Jackson, PhD
Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner
Trenton, NJ

Jeff Kukucka, PhD
Towson University
Towson, MD

Allison Lewis, JD
The Legal Aid Society
New York, NY

William Oliver, MD
East Carolina University
Seymour, TN

Michelle Rippy, EdD
California State University East Bay
Hayward, CA

Jennifer G. Solari, JD
Baker & Hostetler, LLP
Savannah, GA

Program Description: This workshop provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of cognitive biases in forensic science and medicolegal investigations. It brings together experts across disciplines — forensic pathologists, toxicologists, DNA and fingerprint analysts, legal professionals, and cognitive scientists — to examine how biases such as confirmation bias, anchoring, and contextual bias affect forensic decision-making and courtroom outcomes.

Key Highlights:

Understanding Bias in Forensics:

• Explores how cognitive biases can distort interpretation, analysis, and testimony.
  • Emphasizes real-world consequences of bias on justice and forensic reliability.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives:

• Forensic pathologists and death investigators: Strategies for maintaining objectivity in autopsies and scene analysis.

Toxicologists and DNA analysts: Methods to reduce subjective interpretation and promote standardization.

Fingerprint analysts: Challenges in pattern recognition and minimizing human error.

• Prosecutors and defense attorneys: Legal perspectives on how biased forensic evidence affects case outcomes.
• Cognitive scientists: Present latest research and evidence-based debiasing tools.
• Interactive and Practical:
  • Includes hands-on exercises to practice bias-mitigation techniques.
  • Uses case-based discussions to highlight bias in real investigations and trials.
  • Aims to equip attendees with practical tools to improve objectivity in their own work.
• Collaborative Goals:
  • Fosters interdisciplinary dialogue to strengthen forensic reliability and judicial fairness.
  • Ideal for forensic professionals, legal experts, and researchers seeking to enhance accuracy, transparency, and integrity in forensic processes.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how bias infiltrates forensic science, as well as concrete strategies to recognize, reduce, and guard against it — ultimately contributing to more objective and just forensic outcomes.

Learning Objectives: This workshop aims to equip forensic professionals with knowledge of cognitive biases impacting forensic science. Participants will learn to identify the effects of cognitive bias and how it relates to errors in decision-making across multiple forensic disciplines. The program fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance accuracy in medicolegal investigations and death certification.

Impact Statement: By addressing cognitive bias, this workshop will improve the reliability of forensic analyses and strengthen justice system outcomes. It empowers professionals to implement bias-mitigation strategies, fostering greater trust in forensic evidence.

Target Audience: Criminalistics, General, Jurisprudence, Pathology/Biology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Toxicology

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Chair: 
Patrick Buzzini, PhD
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX

Co-Chair: 
Michelle D. Miranda, PhD
Center for Criminal Justice Studies
Farmingdale, NY

Presenters:
Claude Roux, PhD
University of Technology Sydney
Ultimo, New South Wales
Australia

Sheila Willis, DSc
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science
Chapelizod, Dublin
Ireland

Program Description: This workshop emphasizes the foundational role of context in forensic science, arguing that it goes beyond relevance to shape every aspect of forensic practice. It begins by defining context and exploring its various forms — such as case-specific details and the perspectives of forensic professionals and stakeholders. A central theme is that interpretation of forensic evidence depends heavily on available information and individual perspectives.

Key topics include:

• The difference between task-relevant and task-irrelevant information
• How context affects decision-making throughout investigations
• The importance of asking the right questions
• How context influences the reporting and communication of forensic findings to different audiences (e.g., investigators, courts)

The workshop also examines how context shapes reporting schemes in comparative examinations and stresses the need to tailor forensic reports to the needs of each recipient. Finally, it highlights the broader value of forensic data in supporting crime pattern analysis, evidence-based policing, and public safety, underscoring that these benefits rely on properly incorporating context throughout the forensic process.

Learning Objectives: After attending this workshop, attendees will: (1) understand the foundational role played by context across all forensic science activities; (2) learn that context can be present in different forms and typologies; and (3) understand how context is critical to every step of the forensic science process: investigations, scene investigation, including trace detection and signification, event reconstruction, laboratory analysis, as well as evaluation and reporting.

Impact Statement: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by emphasizing foundational principles of forensic science, exploring the effect of context in different ways, and illustrating that meaningful interpretation can only be carried out in consideration of context.

Target Audience: All Sections

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
Andrew M. Baker, MD
Hennepin County Medical Examiner
Minnetonka, MN

Co-Chair: 
J. Keith Pinckard, MD, PhD
Travis County Medical Examiner
Austin, TX

Presenters:
James R. Gill, MD
Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Farmington, CT

Laura M. Labay, PhD
NMS Labs
Horsham, PA

Lindsay Taute, MD
Hennepin County Medical Examiner
Minnetonka, MN

Program Description: This workshop aims to demystify forensic pathology for attorneys and other professionals who work with forensic pathologists. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field to help participants understand, communicate with, and effectively question pathologists in both legal and investigative settings.

Key components include:

• Guided tours through the autopsy suite, histology lab, imaging suite, and toxicology lab
• Explanations of how autopsies are performed and how results are produced
• Visual presentations featuring autopsy photos, microscopy, neuropathology, and postmortem imaging (e.g., X-rays, CT scans)
• Discussions on:
  • Forensic pathology training
  • Legal standards and statutes
  • How tissue samples become microscope slides
  • The role of imaging in supplementing autopsies
  • The impact of neuropathology on understanding injury/disease
  • Factors influencing toxicology testing and interpretation

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the forensic pathology process and how to engage with pathologists more effectively in investigative and courtroom contexts.

Learning Objectives: After attending this workshop, attendees will: (1) know the history, principles, statutes, and standards that inform the practice of forensic pathology in the US, (2) understand the making of a pathologist from undergraduate years through fellowship, (3) know the components of an autopsy and the contributions of radiological imaging, (4) understand the role of neuropathology, and (5) describe the pre-laboratory, laboratory, and interpretive aspects of forensic toxicology in death investigations and autopsies.

Impact Statement: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing attendees with an in-depth examination on why and how autopsies are performed, the information they provide, the education and training of the practitioners, and the importance of ancillary studies such as imaging and toxicology in producing complete autopsy reports.

Target Audience: Anthropology, Criminalistics, Engineering & Applied Sciences, Forensic Nursing Science, General, Jurisprudence, Odontology, Pathology/Biology, Toxicology

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Chair: 
Kevin P. Kulbacki, MSFS
KDX Forensics
Chicago, IL

Co-Chair: 
Anjali Ranadive, JD
SciLawForensics, Ltd
Phoenix, AZ

Presenters:
Sarah Chu, PhD
Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law
New York, NY

Max Houck, PhD
FIU Global Forensic & Justice Center
Buffalo, NY

Lisa Montanez, MSFS
The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice
Cardozo School of Law
Yeshiva University
New York, NY

Kyla Wells, JD
Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.
New York, NY

Program Description: This full-day interactive workshop explores the state of ethics in forensic science, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining objectivity, accountability, and public trust. While ethical lapses in the field are often driven by workload pressures, organizational expectations, and cognitive bias, they are rarely openly discussed, limiting the opportunity for systemic improvement.

Key elements include:

• Examination of real-world ethical failures and new survey data from forensic scientists
• Analysis of systemic contributors to ethical compromise, not individual blame
• Insights into external oversight and its role in promoting accountability
• Open discussions on how ethical missteps impact investigations, verdicts, and public confidence

The workshop concludes with a solutions-oriented panel and an action planning session, giving participants practical tools and strategies to strengthen ethical practices within their own labs and organizations.

Learning Objectives: After attending this presentation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of common sources of ethical strain within forensic science. They will be able to understand patterns that link headline failures with quieter, everyday pressures within the laboratory and how cultural factors may inhibit candid discussion of these issues. Finally, attendees will be better equipped to discuss potential reforms to rectify and minimize these issues, both within their own laboratories and throughout the broader forensic science community.

Impact Statement: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by creating candid dialogs about the state of ethics in forensic science. It will reveal patterns behind headline failures and the quieter, everyday pressures that are rarely documented, thereby widening our understanding of how ethical strain emerges and persists across disciplines. It will lay a shared foundation for future research, training, and policy discussions that treat ethics as a central scientific question rather than a peripheral compliance task.

Target Audience: All Sections

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Chair: 
Simone Grassi, MD, PhD
University of Florence
Florence, Toscana
Italy

Co-Chair:
Cristina Mondello, PhD
University of Messina
Messina, Sicilia
Italy

Presenters:
Andrea Costantino, MD
Careggi University Hospital
Florence, Toscana
Italy

Antonio Oliva, MD, PhD
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Rome, Lazio
Italy

Program Description: This half-day workshop focuses on sudden death in the young, particularly cases caused by inherited cardiac disorders where sudden cardiac death (SCD) is often the first and only symptom. The workshop emphasizes the forensic pathologist's critical role in diagnosing these cases postmortem to enable potentially life-saving interventions for surviving family members.

The program includes five segments combining interactive lectures and real case discussions:

1. Introduction to Sudden Death
   • Definitions and prevalence of sudden death and SCD
   • Legal and social implications
2. Autopsy Investigation of Sudden Cardiac Death
   • Importance of autopsy in identifying cardiac causes
   • Role of clinical/circumstantial data and additional tests (imaging, toxicology, biochemistry)
3. Microscopic Examination Best Practices
   • How to sample and analyze heart tissue
   • Differentiating normal from pathological findings (e.g., fibrosis, disarray)
   • Importance of subtle histological changes in early inherited conditions
4. Role of Postmortem Molecular Testing
   • When genetic testing is appropriate
   • Challenges of interpretation (e.g., variants of unknown significance)
   • Integration of genetic findings with autopsy results
5. Q&A Session

The workshop aims to equip participants with the tools to identify and interpret the often subtle findings of inherited cardiac disorders in young individuals, combining autopsy, histology, and genetic testing to guide accurate diagnosis and family risk assessment.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will be: (1) looking at sudden cardiac death of the young as both a forensic and public health issue, (2) learning the whole process of forensic investigation, going from the family history of the victim to the interpretation of molecular autopsy; and (3) learning how to combine ambiguous toxicology, autopsy, histology, and molecular autopsy data in sudden deaths

Impact Statement: This workshop wants to transmit a basic but complete knowledge of what the forensic routine is when a young (younger than 35 years) person suddenly dies, especially when the autopsy results are ambiguous/inconclusive. Real cases will help the audience to simulate decision-making in critical contexts and understand the cost/benefit ratio in highly challenging cases. The workshop hopefully will help to transmit a combined forensic/public health perspective on sudden death, helping forensic experts to transform a tragic event into a chance for the survivors to prevent sudden death.

Target Audience: Pathology/Biology

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Description:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
Julie A. Demarest, MSFS
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory/
SNA International
Dover, DE

Co-Chair:
Debra P. Zinni, PhD
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Kailua, HI

Presenters:
Carrie A. Brown, PhD
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Plattsmouth, NE

Luisa Forger, MS
Armed Forces Medical Examiner System
Wyoming, DE

Amy Hazelwood, MS
AFMES/AFDIL/PAS
SNA International
Dover Air Force Base, DE

Megan E. Ingvoldstad, PhD
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Omaha, NE

Jennie Jin, PhD
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Honolulu, HI

Kerriann Meyers, MS
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory/
SNA International
Dover, DE

Kimberly Sturk Andreaggi, PhD
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory/
SNA International
Dover, DE

Rebecca J. Taylor, PhD
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Kapolei, HI

Program Description: This workshop showcases the transformative partnership between the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) in identifying missing U.S. military personnel from past conflicts (e.g., WWII, Korean War). It highlights how the integration of traditional forensic anthropology with cutting-edge DNA technologies has revolutionized identification efforts.

Key Topics Covered:

• Multidisciplinary Approach by DPAA:
  • Combines skeletal analysis, radiograph comparison, dental exams, isotope analysis, and genealogical research
  • Utilizes historical and case-specific recovery context for case triage and sample selection
• Advanced DNA Analysis by AFDIL:
  • Adapts tools from ancient DNA research for degraded remains
  • Uses advanced techniques like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and SNP-based kinship analysis
  • Employs FIGG (Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy), requiring novel enrichment and bioinformatics for poor-quality DNA
• Impact of Innovations:
  • Expands identification possibilities when traditional methods fail
  • Enables the resolution of long-unsolved cases
  • Provides closure to families through scientific and genealogical breakthroughs

Case Studies:

• Real-life examples demonstrate how combined forensic and genetic approaches have successfully identified service members previously considered unidentifiable

The DPAA-AFDIL partnership exemplifies how sustained collaboration, scientific innovation, and a holistic forensic strategy are reshaping the landscape of historical military identifications, turning once "unsolvable" cases into successful resolutions.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how the DPAA and the AFDIL integrate and leverage forensic archaeology anthropology, odontology, and stable isotopic analyses, and advanced DNA technologies to successfully identify military personnel from complex historical cases. Participants will learn specific methodologies for transitioning cutting-edge techniques from research fields into operational forensic applications, including the implementation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) analysis and Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) for challenging identifications. Through detailed case studies, attendees will understand the decision-making processes for selecting appropriate skeletal, dental, and DNA analytical methods when standard techniques fail and how inter-agency collaboration maximizes identification success rates. Participants will leave with practical knowledge of how to approach decades-old identification cases using evolving DNA technologies and comprehensive investigative frameworks.

Impact Statement: This workshop will enhance forensic laboratory performance by demonstrating proven methodologies for transitioning frontier scientific techniques from research applications into operational forensic settings, enabling practitioners to overcome technological limitations in challenging cases. Participants will develop a greater understanding of integrated approaches that combine traditional forensic methods with advanced DNA technologies, including SNP analysis and FIGG, providing essential skills for complex identification scenarios. The presentation will improve stakeholder outcomes by showcasing successful inter-agency collaboration models that maximize identifications, ultimately delivering closure to families and demonstrating the forensic community's commitment to leaving no case unsolved through continuous scientific advancement.

Target Audience: Anthropology, Criminalistics

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Chair: 
Simone Gittelson, PhD
The George Washington University and 
DC Department of Forensic Sciences
Washington, DC

Co-Chair:
Tim Kalafut, PhD
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX

Presenters:
Michael Bissonnette, MS
Centre of Forensic Sciences
Ontario, Canada

Michael A. Marciano, PhD
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Ray A. Wickenheiser, DPS
SupreMEtric
Youngsville, LA

Program Description: This workshop addresses the challenges faced in the U.S. regarding Activity Level Evaluation (ALE) of DNA evidence, especially during live courtroom testimony when experts are unexpectedly asked questions about DNA transfer without prior preparation or formal model-driven analysis.

Key Issues:

• ALE questions often arise in real time at trial, catching experts off guard.
• Common responses like "Yes, it's possible…" are uninformative and unhelpful.
• While formal, model-based ALE reporting exists, it's rarely feasible in unanticipated courtroom scenarios.
• Currently, no guidelines exist for experts to navigate these unscripted ALE questions when no formal ALE was performed.

Workshop Focus:

• Presents a new best-practice framework developed by a North American working group of forensic DNA practitioners.
• Offers judgment-based strategies for responding to ALE questions in court when no formal analysis was conducted.
• Emphasizes a real-world, testimony-ready approach grounded in: rigor, transparency, balance, logical reasoning, and traceability of thought process.

This workshop fills the critical gap between full ALE reporting and courtroom reality, equipping DNA experts with practical, ethical, and defensible strategies for addressing unexpected ALE questions during testimony.

Learning Objectives: After attending this workshop, attendees will have an alternate strategy to answer questions about transfer and persistence at trial. They will know how to correctly formulate activity level propositions, apply the Case Assessment and Interpretation framework, support their opinions with data, and answer questions without transposing the conditional. Participants will be given options that can assist in developing a protocol and training program for use in their own casework.

Impact Statement: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing guidance on how to answer activity-level questions on biological results during testimony when no formal Activity-Level Evaluation (ALE) had been conducted. The strategies discussed will provide the participants with a way to deliver answers that are useful to the court and based on data, emphasizing balance, logic, and transparency.

Target Audience: Criminalistics, General, Jurisprudence

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Chair: 
Henry Swofford, PhD
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD

Co-Chair:
Melissa Taylor, BA
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD

Presenters:
Niki Osborne, PhD
Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science
Auckland, New Zealand

Janet K. Stacey, MSc
Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science
Auckland, New Zealand

Program Description: This half-day workshop explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in forensic science, focusing on how AI can improve efficiency, accuracy, and insight across various forensic disciplines.

Key Objectives:

• Showcase real-world AI applications in forensic workflows, such as:
  • Case management
  • Evidence analysis
  • Quality assurance
  • Training and research
• Identify and reduce barriers to AI adoption in forensic settings
• Provide hands-on experience with an evolving library of forensic AI use cases
• Support evaluation and integration of AI tools in participants' organizations

Collaboration and Governance:

• Encourage collaboration between AI developers and forensic professionals to align language, goals, and expectations
• Introduce governance frameworks to support responsible AI adoption, including:
  • NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)
  • Responsible AI Framework for Forensic Science

NIST's Role:

• Leading national efforts to:
  • Map AI tools to forensic workflows
  • Develop a shared forensic-AI taxonomy
  • Design AI procurement frameworks tailored to forensic needs

Participants will leave with a better understanding of how to responsibly adopt and govern AI technologies in forensic science, fostering innovation while ensuring transparency, reliability, and legal compliance.

Learning Objectives: The goals of this workshop are to: (1) identify and describe high-impact AI use cases relevant to forensic science, including applications in case management, evidence analysis, research, training, and quality assurance; (2) access and contribute to a shared use case library and taxonomy, designed to accelerate innovation by aligning developer efforts with real-world forensic needs; (3) explain the core principles of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the Responsible AI Framework for Forensic Science, and how these tools support effective and transparent AI adoption; and (4) explore a forensic-specific procurement framework to evaluate the readiness, fit-for-purpose design, and scalability of AI tools under consideration for operational use.

Impact Statement: This workshop will equip forensic scientists, quality managers, researchers, and legal practitioners with the tools and frameworks needed to make informed decisions about adopting AI technologies in forensic science. By introducing structured use cases, shared terminology, and risk management and procurement frameworks, the session aims to bridge the gap between technical innovation and operational readiness. The outcomes will support the development of innovative, transparent, and fit-for-purpose AI-enabled applications in forensic science.

Target Audience: General

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
Felice F. Carabellese, MBBS
University of Bari
Bari, Puglia
Italy

Co-Chair:
Alan R. Felthous, MD
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Presenters:
Emma Henrie, MD
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Houston, TX

Chanchal K. Kahlon, MD
SSM Saint Louis University Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Paulyann Maclayton, MD
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
Manvel, TX

Daniel A. Martell, PhD
Forensic Neuroscience Consultants
APPC
Irvine, CA

Lia Parente, PsyD
University of Rome Sapienza
Trani, Puglia
Italy

Emily Rodgers, DO
SSM Saint Louis University Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Delavar Safari, MD
SSM Saint Louis University Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Julian Samuel, MBBS
Harris County of Institute of Forensic Sciences
Houston, TX

Tabitha Ward, MD
Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office
San Antonio, TX

Program Description: This workshop, aligned with the theme "Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Forensic Science," examines the intersection of psychological pathology and physical trauma in domestic violence-related homicide-suicide (HS) cases, both in Texas and internationally.

Core Themes:

• Role of the Forensic Pathologist:
  • Maintain objectivity and scientific rigor amid emotionally charged scenes
  • Focus on evidence, not narratives
• Nature of Domestic HS:
  • Often rooted in intimate partner or familial relationships
  • Reflect a convergence of internal psychological breakdown and external lethal action
• Case Reviews Include:
  • Familicide with a surviving child
  • Spousal homicide witnessed by a child
  • Mother-son deaths in a hotel
  • Multiple-family-member killings with others spared
  • Delayed suicide following multi-victim homicide
  • Familicides amid divorce or without known triggers

These cases are analyzed for:

• Injury patterns, range of fire, and number of wounds
• Victim selection and spared individuals
• Clues to perpetrator psychology and motives

Psychological & Forensic Integration:

• Uses Felthous et al.'s 2024 tripartite model:
  1. Psychopathology/ego structure
  2. Stressors (chronic or acute)
  3. Motivational vector
• Psychological categories: depression, psychosis, substance abuse, sociopathy, impulsivity
• Contexts: intimate, parental, adversarial relationships

This workshop deepens understanding of domestic and mass homicide-suicide by combining forensic science with psychological profiling — enhancing investigative accuracy and reinforcing the importance of scientific clarity and human empathy in the face of devastating events.

Learning Objectives: After attending this workshop, attendees will: (1) understand basic procedures in medical examinations for determining that deaths were homicide-suicide and the type of Homicide-Suicide (HS); (2) gain an appreciation of the two-part classification of HS that addresses the psychopathology of the perpetrator and their relationship with the victim(s); (3) recognize the three domains of HS: psychopathology, stressors, and vector (cognitive components of motivation); and (4) recognize from example how physical findings of the deceased can relate to the perpetrator's mindset during the act.

Impact Statement: This workshop should impart a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between autopsy findings and psychological issues behind HS acts. Practitioners can recognize that the classification of all HS pertains to individual, unique cases, and careful examination of individual cases adds to the usefulness of the broader classification. Collaboration between pathologists and behavioral scientists may enhance understanding of these tragic events and provide preventive insights.

Target Audience: Pathology/Biology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
Summer J. Decker, PhD
University of Southern California 
Keck School of Medicine
Los Angeles, CA

Co-Chair:
Edward Mazuchowski, MD, PhD
Armed Forces Medical Examiner System
Dover AFB, DE

Presenters:
Fabrice Dedouit, MD, PhD
Toulouse Hospital
Toulouse, Midi-Pyrenees
France

Lars Ebert, PhD
Zurich Forensic Science Institute
Zurich, Switzerland

Jamie M. Elifritz, MD
Forensic Radiology Group
Destin, FL

Barbara Fliss, MD
University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Institute of Forensic Medicine
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz
Germany

Jonathan M. Ford, PhD
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Heather S. Jarrell, MD
Office of the Medical Investigator
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, NM

Yanko G. Kolev, MD, PhD
Department of General Medicine, Forensic Medicine, and Deontology
Medical University
Pleven, Bulgaria

Michael Thali, MD
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland

Program Description: This workshop offers a comprehensive exploration of Postmortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) and advanced forensic imaging, led by an international group of experts. It is designed for all experience levels — from newcomers to seasoned practitioners — and covers both foundational knowledge and cutting-edge developments.

Key Topics:

• Establishing a PMCT service
• Case reviews with interpretation tips from global perspectives
• PMCT in drug-related deaths and identification of unknown remains
• Natural and unnatural death investigations using imaging
• Postmortem changes and artifacts
• Radiologic imaging modalities in medicolegal death investigations: benefits and limitations
• Basics of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) and interpretation
• Legal applications of postmortem imaging findings
• Collaboration between radiologists and death investigators

Format:

• Directed lectures, interactive case presentations, and a panel discussion
• Focus on enhancing interpretation skills and understanding the legal relevance of imaging
• Discussion of emerging technologies shaping the future of forensic imaging

Optional Hands-On Component:

• Available for participants who bring a Windows laptop (no firewall)
• Macs not supported due to compatibility issues with the web-based PACS
• A mouse is recommended for more precise image navigation

This workshop equips participants with the knowledge and tools to implement or expand PMCT use in their practice, while addressing both practical and technical considerations. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, interpretation accuracy, and the evolving role of imaging in forensic investigations.

Learning Objectives: The goals of this workshop are to: (1) describe the foundational principles of PMCT and its growing role in medicolegal death investigations, with attention to its global adoption and implementation; (2) recognize key PMCT findings across a range of cases — including natural disease, trauma, drug-related deaths, and unidentified remains — with attention to interpretive pearls and common pitfalls; (3) identify practical considerations for implementing a PMCT service, including equipment selection, workflow design, and interdisciplinary collaboration between radiologists and death investigators; (4) engage in hands-on presentations, gaining experience with Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), review real PMCT cases using a web-based PACS platform, guided by expert tips, interpretation strategies, and feedback; and (5) evaluate emerging technologies and legal applications of PMCT, such as 3D reconstructions and postmortem angiography, and understand their value in documentation, expert consultation, and courtroom presentation.

Impact Statement: This workshop advances the integration of PMCT into medicolegal death investigation by offering practical guidance, case-based learning, and global expertise. Participants will gain essential skills for implementing and interpreting PMCT, explore its application in diverse death scenarios, and understand its value in legal proceedings. By fostering international collaboration and highlighting emerging technologies, this program supports the standardization and broader adoption of PMCT in forensic practice.

Target Audience: Anthropology, Criminalistics, Engineering & Applied Sciences, Forensic Nursing Science, General, Odontology, Pathology/Biology

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Chair: 
Teresa L. Ambrosius, BA
AAFS Standards Board
Colorado Springs, CO

Co-Chair:
Kris Cano, MA
Signature Science, LLC,
Austin, TX

Presenters:
Jennifer Floyd, BS
Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
Little Rock, AR

Mark T. Goff, BA
Michigan State Police
Lansing, MI

Marc A. LeBeau, PhD
LeBeau Forensic Toxicology Consulting
O'Fallon, MO

Michelle Rippy, EdD
California State University East Bay
Hayward, CA

Program Description: This workshop highlights the role and impact of the Academy Standards Board (ASB) in promoting standardization in forensic science to enhance scientific credibility and reduce wrongful convictions.

Key Points:

• The ASB was established in 2015 by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences to create consensus-based national standards aimed at promoting justice, integrity, and fairness.
• It operates under a framework accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
• ASB develops and freely provides forensic science standards, guidelines, best practices, and technical reports across multiple disciplines.
• The organization emphasizes values such as scientific rigor, openness, due process, collaboration, diversity, and inclusion.

Workshop Focus:

• Demonstrates how published standards are being realistically implemented by forensic laboratories at various government levels (federal, state, local).
• Includes live demonstrations and discussions to show how standards are applied in operational forensic settings.
• Aims to support practitioners, attorneys, and the courts by improving consistency and quality across forensic practices.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how forensic standards are developed and applied in practice, and how standardization supports the accuracy, fairness, and integrity of the justice system.

Learning Objectives: This interactive workshop will explore the history, implementation, and legal perspectives of forensic science standards. Attendees will learn how standards are developed and published, how they are adopted by crime laboratories, and how they are interpreted and assessed by the legal profession. The workshop will incorporate multiple learning modalities to actively engage participants and align the content with real-world forensic practice.

Impact Statement: This workshop will help attendees: (1) understand the process through which forensic science standards are developed and published; (2) identify challenges related to the implementation of these standards in crime laboratories; and (3) gain insight into how the legal profession evaluates the role of standards in courtroom proceedings. To provide practical context, the workshop will be conducted in the format of a fictional crime scene, where presenters will demonstrate the realistic application of forensic standards in both field and laboratory settings. 

Target Audience: All Sections

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $300

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Chair: 
Gina Londino-Smolar, EdD, 
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN

Co-Chair:
Beth Saucier Goodspeed, MS
Lasell University
Bellingham, MA

Presenters:
Megan Bassendale, MSc
Forensic Guardians International
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada

Claire L. Glynn, PhD
University of New Haven and 
Henry C Lee Institute of Forensic Science
West Haven, CT

Robert L. Hunkeler, III, MFS
Montgomery County Coroner's Office
Xenia, OH

Khlea Sumani, DMD
Scarlet Dental
Las Vegas, NV

Lara Newell, MA
Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Richmond, VA

Jason W. Wills, DSc
Jonesboro Fire Department
Jonesboro, AR

Program Description: This workshop, "Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Forensic Science in Collaboration," emphasizes the vital role of interdisciplinary cooperation among forensic scientists, law enforcement, and the justice system — especially in the context of mass disasters.

Key Objectives:

• Reaffirm foundational principles:
  • Teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and scientific integrity
• Highlight how collaboration strengthens forensic investigations and promotes just outcomes

Workshop Focus: Mass Disasters

Used as a central framework to explore:

• The complexity of coordination across forensic disciplines
• The need for clear communication, shared responsibilities, and ethical decision-making

Interactive Components:

• Case studies:
  • Real examples of both successful and problematic interagency collaboration
• Expert panels:
  • Perspectives from forensic scientists, law enforcement, and legal professionals on challenges in mass disaster response
• Scenario-based exercises, including:
  • Crime Scene Management: Triage, evidence collection, and body recovery
  • Victim Identification: Multidisciplinary approaches requiring strong data-sharing
  • Courtroom Testimony: Presenting complex findings clearly and ethically
  • Emphasis on chain of custody, terminology alignment, and cross-disciplinary communication

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how "back to basics" principles are essential in high-stakes forensic contexts — ensuring accuracy, integrity, and justice during the most complex and emotionally charged investigations.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will: (1) identify the core roles and responsibilities of various forensic science disciplines and their interdependencies; (2) analyze case studies to understand how collaboration (or lack thereof) impacts case outcomes; (3) apply best practices for interdisciplinary communication and documentation; and (4) evaluate ethical challenges that arise in collaborative forensic work and propose solutions grounded in foundational principles.

Impact Statement: This workshop will have a significant and lasting impact on the forensic science community by reinforcing the foundational principle that forensic science does not operate in isolation. By bringing together professionals from across the forensic, investigative, and legal spectrum, this workshop will foster a deeper understanding of how collaboration enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and ethical integrity of forensic casework. Participants will gain practical tools to improve communication, streamline workflows, and resolve conflicts that often arise in multidisciplinary environments. This workshop will also promote a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility, which is essential for maintaining public trust in forensic outcomes and the justice system as a whole. By returning to the basics of teamwork, ethical practice, and scientific rigor, this workshop will help reestablish a common language and purpose among forensic professionals. It will inspire a new generation of practitioners to prioritize collaboration as a core competency, ultimately leading to more robust investigations, fairer trials, and stronger communities.

Target Audience: All Sections

Knowledge Level: Basic

Pre-Registration Required — $165

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Chair:
Carole E. Chaski, PhD
Institute for Linguistic Evidence
Georgetown, DE

Co-Chair:
Gil Sapir, JD
Chicago, IL

Presenters:
J Nathan N. Holmes, JD
Boles Holmes White LLC
Birmingham, AL

Lucky M. Onyekwelu-Udoka, MASc
Iowa State University
Ames, IA

David P. Weber, DBA
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD

Program Description: This workshop introduces forensic linguistics as a unifying science behind diverse language-based evidence — including text messages, voicemails, suicide notes, AI-generated essays, and handwritten documents. It demonstrates how linguistics can strengthen forensic analysis across text, speech, and handwriting.

Key topics include:

• Text analysis: authorship identification, threat/suicide classification, text similarity, and linguistic profiling
• Speech analysis: speaker identification, voice separation, disguise detection, and deepfake recognition
• Handwriting analysis: writer identification and signs of neurological or psychological conditions

The session includes:

• Software demonstrations of current tools and their accuracy
• Discussion of validation status and legal admissibility of methods
• Interactive video demos for each linguistic technique, allowing detailed discussion

Designed for forensic professionals, this workshop highlights how linguistics provides structured, scientifically grounded methods for analyzing and explaining complex language-based forensic evidence.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will learn about methods for testing and using scientific evidence related to language. The methods presented include forensic text analysis, speech analysis, and handwriting analysis. Reliability, validation testing, and admissibility of methods will be discussed.

Impact Statement: The forensic science community will be impacted by increasing awareness of linguistics as a foundational science for forensic text, speech, and handwriting analysis, seeing demonstrations of software tools for performing these analyses, and evaluating the tools in terms of Rule 702 for use in the laboratory or at trial.

Target Audience: Criminalistics, Digital & Multimedia Sciences, Engineering & Applied Sciences, General, Jurisprudence, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Questioned Documents

Knowledge Level: Basic 

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Chair:
Jamie Ferrell, MBA
Memorial Hermann Health System
Katy, TX

Co-Chair:
Virginia A. Lynch, MSN
Forensic Nurse Consultants International
Divide, CO

Presenters:
Venera Mehmeti, LLM
Institute on Forensic Medicine
Ministry Of Justice
Prishtine, Tirane
Albania

Russell R. Rooms, DNP
Diversity Family Health
Newalla, OK

Program Description: This presentation examines harmful cultural practices that perpetuate gender-based violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, often under the pretext of tradition, morality, or honor.

Key Issues Addressed:

• Practices like virginity testing, honor killings, and bride burning reflect systems of gender inequality and heteronormativity
• LGBTQ+ individuals face marginalization, criminalization, and violence under similar cultural and moral justifications
• These acts violate human rights and create serious public health, legal, and social consequences

Workshop Focus:

• Explores the humanitarian implications of these practices
• Analyzes the tension between cultural relativism and universal human rights
• Advocates for culturally sensitive yet rights-affirming interventions
• Highlights survivor experiences, international human rights standards, and the importance of community-led solutions

Outcomes for Participants:

• Learn to recognize, respond to, and advocate against harmful traditions
• Gain tools to promote gender equity and protect the dignity and safety of all individuals, regardless of gender or sexual identity

To dismantle these practices, a global, interdisciplinary, and culturally aware approach is essential — one that prioritizes human rights, justice, and survivor-centered advocacy.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: (1) identify the humanitarian and human rights impacts of cultural practices such as virginity validation, honor-based violence, and the marginalization of LGBTQ+ persons; (2) analyze the intersection of cultural norms with gender, sexuality, and power across diverse global contexts; and (3) evaluate culturally informed yet rights-based strategies for advocacy, intervention, and prevention of gender-based violence and discrimination.

Impact Statement: This presentation equips the forensic science community with a critical understanding of how culturally justified violence impacts forensic practice. By examining activities like virginity testing, honor killings, and anti-LGBTQ+ persecution through legal, clinical, and behavioral lenses, it fosters culturally informed, rights-based approaches to investigation and advocacy. Attendees will gain tools to better recognize and respond to these human rights violations within diverse cultural and forensic contexts.

Target Audience: Criminalistics, Forensic Nursing Science, General, Jurisprudence, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Chair: 
David Notowitz, APM
National Center for Audio and Video Forensics
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Co-Chair:
Parris Ward, JD
Biodynamics Engineering, Inc.
Pacific Palisades, CA

Program Description: This workshop provides forensic professionals with tools and techniques to enhance the clarity and evidentiary value of audio recordings, enabling the development of persuasive, court-admissible exhibits that support truth and justice. Join forensic audio expert David Notowitz in this interactive, hands-on workshop.

Key Focus Areas

Audience: 

• Designed for professionals across all forensic disciplines — not just audio/video specialists.

Core Skills Taught:

• Identifying and removing common audio issues: wind, engine noise, electronic interference, hums, buzzes, animal sounds, etc.
  Using professional enhancement software with tools like: spectral repair, de-noising, de-clipping, dialog isolation, and de-reverberation
  Real-World Applications: enhancing audio from surveillance, phone calls, body cams, and more
  Learning ethical best practices for admissibility and chain of custody
  Analyzing actual case studies where enhanced audio influenced trial outcomes

Takeaways:

• Gain practical, transferable skills to apply audio forensics in your discipline
• Enhance investigations, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and improve courtroom impact
• Leave empowered to uncover critical details in audio evidence that could shift the course of a case

This workshop equips forensic professionals with the tools and techniques to unlock the power of audio evidence, turning unclear recordings into persuasive, court-admissible exhibits that support truth and justice.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this hands-on workshop, attendees will be able to: (1) identify key forensic audio challenges — such as wind noise, engine noise, electronic interference, hum and buzz, police sirens, chirping birds, and dog barks — in evidence from sources like surveillance videos, phone recordings, and body-worn cameras, and explain how enhancement techniques can uncover hidden details to support investigations across forensic disciplines; (2) navigate and apply specialized audio enhancement tools — such as spectral repair, de-noising, de-clipping, de-reverberation, and dialog isolation — within a professional software suite to improve audio intelligibility and quality in real-world samples; (3) evaluate and implement best practices for creating courtroom-ready audio exhibits, including ethical considerations, chain of custody, and admissibility standards, drawing from actual case studies presented by an experienced forensic audio expert; (4) analyze interdisciplinary applications of audio forensics, recognizing how these techniques intersect with video, digital, and other forensic fields to enhance overall evidence analysis and trial outcomes; and (5) demonstrate basic proficiency in audio enhancement through guided exercises, enabling even non-audio specialists to explore and integrate these methods into their own forensic workflows.

Impact Statement: This hands-on workshop will significantly impact the forensic science community by teaching them audio enhancement techniques, empowering experts across diverse disciplines — such as digital forensics, video analysis, pathology, and criminalistics — to understand what is possible with audio forensics and teach them about the options for integrating audio forensics into their workflows. By demonstrating practical tools and real-world case studies, it will enhance the community's ability to uncover critical details in audio evidence, leading to more accurate investigations, stronger courtroom presentations, and higher admissibility rates for enhanced exhibits. Furthermore, as a crossover session, it will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging non-audio specialists to explore this evolving field, advance the discussion of ethical standards, technological proficiency, and overall evidentiary integrity in forensic practice.

Target Audience:  Digital & Multimedia Sciences, General, Jurisprudence

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Chair: 
Katelyn L. Bolhofner, PhD
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ

Co-Chair:
Laura C. Fulginiti, PhD
Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner
Mesa, AZ

Presenters:
Jane E. Buikstra, PhD
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Kevin A. Gary, PhD
Arizona State University
Mesa, AZ

Jacob A. Harris, PhD
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ

Program Description: This workshop focuses on the continued development and beta testing of the Skeletal Atlas of Elder Abuse — a digital diagnostic and educational tool designed to improve the recognition and investigation of elder physical abuse.

Key Highlights:

• Background:
  • Rising rates of elder abuse, particularly physical abuse, highlight the need for better diagnostic tools.
  • Injuries are often misattributed to falls, medication effects, or natural aging, complicating detection and prosecution.
• Workshop Goals:
  • Introduce the revised version of the Skeletal Atlas of Elder Abuse
  • Engage participants in beta testing and provide feedback on the tool
  • Present findings from NIJ-funded research on:
    • Differences between skeletal trauma from accidental falls vs. abuse/neglect
    • The impact of aging and bone density loss on injury patterns
• Content & Activities:
  • Demonstrations of updates to the digital atlas
  • Insights from the AI and machine learning developers behind the diagnostic models
  • Presentations by the software development team
  • Interactive feedback sessions focused on usability, diagnostic accuracy, and interface design

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of elder abuse injury patterns, contribute to the refinement of a pioneering forensic tool, and help shape its future release — enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and justice outcomes in elder abuse cases.

Learning Objectives: After attending this workshop, attendees will be able to: (1) describe methods used to characterize assess skeletal fracture patterns in elderly individuals and the ways in which aging affects fracture and recovery; (2) understand there are different patterns of trauma associated with abuse/neglect and with accidental falls; (3) understand how to navigate the presented digital atlas of elder abuse, both for educational and diagnostic purposes; and (4) participate in beta testing the atlas and contribute usability data toward its final construction.

Impact Statement: Ten percent of adults aged 65+ will experience some form of abuse annually. Physical abuse and caregiver neglect account for most cases, yet remain difficult to prove. Skeletal expressions of abuse offer key indications of inflicted and untreated injuries, but are masked by assignation to accidental falls. Funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), our research aims to produce a standard for the diagnosis of elder abuse in the skeletal system. This presentation will impact the forensic science community by offering a user-reviewed and expert-revised version of a digital tool for diagnosis and education so that we may improve our understanding of fractures and their contexts in elderly individuals.

Target Audience: Anthropology, Criminalistics, Digital & Multimedia Sciences, Forensic Nursing Science, General, Pathology/Biology

Knowledge Level: Basic

Program Schedule:

Pre-Registration Required — $165

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Chair: 
James L. Caruso, MD
DPHE Office of the Medical Examiner
Denver, CO

Co-Chair:
Andrea Zaferes, MFS
Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office/FACT
Shokan, NY

Presenters:
Craig Nelson, MD
Office of the Medical Examiner
Raleigh, NC

Frauke Tillmans, PhD
Divers Alert Network
Durham, NC

Program Description: This workshop provides a comprehensive guide to investigating and certifying SCUBA diving-related fatalities, tailored for pathologists, death investigators, law enforcement, and attorneys.

Key Objectives:

• Understand diving physiology and fatal risks:
  • Covers compressed gas effects, barotrauma, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, gas embolism, and decompression sickness
  • Reviews drowning physiology, as it is a frequent final outcome
• Investigative approach to diving deaths:
  • Emphasizes the importance of witness interviews, diver's medical and diving history, dive depth and time, and sequence of events
  • Discusses the epidemiology and risk factors associated with recreational diving deaths (80–90/year in North America)
• Hands-on component:
  • Participants will examine diving equipment and learn how to evaluate it for investigative purposes
• Autopsy and certification protocols:
  • Presents a suggested autopsy protocol for diving fatalities
  • Explains interpretation of findings such as intravascular gas bubbles
  • Reviews natural diseases that may cause sudden death during diving
• Legal and forensic considerations:
  • Addresses the possibility of non-accidental deaths and the importance of manner-of-death determinations
  • Acknowledges the civil litigation potential following diving fatalities
• Resources Provided:
  • Includes checklists, reporting forms, autopsy guidelines, and recommended reference materials

Attendees will gain the skills and tools to accurately investigate, document, and interpret SCUBA-related deaths, improving their ability to distinguish between accidental, natural, and potentially suspicious causes — while navigating both forensic and legal complexities.

Learning Objectives: Attendees at this workshop will: (1) gain an appreciation for the number of diving-related deaths that occur each year, the most common causes of death and contributing factors, and how that data is collected; (2) learn best practices in the investigation of recreational diving fatalities and deaths due to drowning; (3) attain a basic understanding of diving physiology and pathophysiology; (4) appreciate that there are certain techniques that can be utilized to maximize the information obtained from the postmortem examination of SCUBA diving deaths and deaths suspected to be due to drowning; (5) know how to interpret the findings of a postmortem examination of someone who died while breathing compressed gas under pressure; and (6) have references and resources that can be used when faced with investigating recreational diving deaths

Impact Statement: This presentation will impact the forensic community by providing the training and resources needed to forensic pathologists, medicolegal death investigators, attorneys, and members of law enforcement agencies so they may competently and confidently investigate recreational diving-related deaths.

Target Audience: General, Jurisprudence, Pathology/Biology

Knowledge Level: Basic 

Program Schedule: