When:

10-Part Webinar Series

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 from 1pm - 3pm ET

The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), in collaboration with the National Network of Public Health Institute (NNPHI) and the Public Health Institute (PHI), is pleased to announce a new symposium series focusing attention on improvements to accuracy and consistency in recording cause and manner of death in drug toxicity cases. We invite medicolegal death investigation professionals to a free, CME and CE eligible ten-part series focusing on the latest challenges and best practices in the investigation and certification of these often-complex cases. This is the latest in a multi-year program to share best practices, expand our understanding of these deaths, reach new audiences, and stay current with the continuing drug overdose crisis in the U.S.

Emerging factors driving current patterns in drug overdose mortality include the complex and variable supply of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and the development and proliferation of other drug classes including novel benzodiazepines, cathinone stimulants, hallucinogens, and adulterants such as xylazine, medetomidine, and various other novel synthetic opioids.

Presentations in this series feature panels of complementary perspectives on key topics from recognized experts in forensic pathology, medicolegal death investigation and toxicology, as well as adjacent fields such as epidemiology, public health, and medical toxicology. Consistent with prior series, the focus is on understanding the most appropriate ways to recognize, identify, and document drug involvement when conducting death investigations, and ensure consistent certification and reporting of these cases to maintain an accurate picture of drug involved deaths in the United States.

 

The content, expert presenters, and presentation dates for the series include:

Webinar 1 - Review of the Three-legged stool of Drug Death Investigation and Certification: Scene, Autopsy and Toxicology

WHEN: APRIL 1, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Erin Worrell, MS, D-ABMDI, Deputy Chief of Investigations at Franklin County Forensic Science Center, Columbus, OH

Dr. Francisco Diaz, MD, OCME Washington DC

Dr. Laura Labay, PhD, NMS Labs in Horsham, PA

 

Webinar 2 - The Current Status of Fentanyl and Novel Synthetic Opioid Deaths in The United States

WHEN: APRIL 15, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA

Dr. Jason Graham, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, NYC OCME, NY

Dr. Luke Rodda, PhD, Assistant Adjunct Professor, UCSF; Chief Forensic Toxicologist and Director, Forensic Laboratory Division, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Dr. Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT, CFSRE President, Horsham, PA

 

Webinar 3 - The Challenge of Investigation, Toxicological Analysis and Certification of Poly-Drug Deaths

WHEN: APRIL 29, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Gail Cooper, PhD, NYC OCME, NY

Dr. Aaron Shapiro, PhD, Associate Scientific Director of Toxicology at BC Centre for Disease Control

Dr. Tom Gilson, MD, Cuyahoga County, Chief Medical Examiner

 

Webinar 4 - 2024 Year in Review of Novel Psychoactive Substances involved Deaths

WHEN: MAY 6, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Alex Krotulski, PhD, CFSRE, Horsham, PA

Dr. Kayla Ellefson, PhD, Austin TX

Dr. Darinka Mileusnic, MD, Knoxville, TN

 

Webinar 5 - The Continuing Challenges of Resourcing Medicolegal Death Investigation in Rural and Under-Resourced Jurisdictions

WHEN: MAY 27, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Erin Linde, Omaha, NE

Dr. Deland Weyrauch, MD, Medical Examiner's Office, MT

Dr. Kent Harshbarger, MD, Montgomery County Coroner, OH

 

Webinar 6 - Overdose Fatality Review Teams– Linking MDI to Public Health Outcomes

WHEN: JUNE 3, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Reade Quinton, MD, Mayo Clinic, MN

Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA

Dr. Mallory O’Brien, Phd, Associate Scientist, Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

 

Webinar 7 - Ketamine – An Old Drug with New Uses, its Proliferation, and Potential for Involvement in Drug Deaths

WHEN: JUNE 24, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Joey Palamar, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health, NY

Dr. Kari Midthun, PhD, F-ABFT, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA

Dr. James Gill, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, OCME, CT

 

Webinar 8 - Opioid Overdose Deaths in the Emergency Room: Naloxone and Other Interventions – Factors that impact Emergency Care Outcomes

WHEN: JULY 8, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Lewis Nelson, MD, Florida Atlantic University, FL

Dr. Jess Kent, MD, St. Michael's Hospital, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Owen Middleton, MD, Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office, MN

Dr. Dan Isenschmid, PhD, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA

 

Webinar 9 - Involvement of Synthetic Cannabinoids and Other Drugs Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths among Persons in Jail/Prison

WHEN: JULY 15, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Cook County, IL

Dr. Ted Browne, MD, OCME, AR

Sara Walton, MS, CFSRE, Horsham, PA

Dr. Justin Wilks, MD, Cook County Sheriffs Office, IL

 

Webinar 10 - Stimulant Intoxication: Effects and Involvement in Cause and Manner of Death 2025

WHEN: JULY 30, 2025 FROM 1 PM - 3 PM ET

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT, CFSRE President, Horsham, PA

Dr. Timothy Wiegand, MD, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at URMC Rochester, NY

Dr. Michelle Jordan, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Santa Clara County, CA

 

*The webinar's content has been reviewed by the ABFT and ABC, and determined to be acceptable for submission to the ABFT or ABC for continuing education credit.

*The following statements apply to all live/virtual sessions

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Penn State College of Medicine and The Center for Forensic Science, Research, and Education. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This [project/program/website/conference, etc.] is supported by the Public Health Institute and the National Network of Public Health Institutes under cooperative agreement FAIN: NU38PW000031. Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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