July 2024 - Message from the Chair

Dear Forensic Section Members,

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far – both the lazy days of summer, and the crazy days of July in the ED. In this newsletter, I would like to update you about this year’s Forensic Section’s accomplishments and offerings. Our section aims to bring you the latest developments and current events in the field of forensic medicine. As always, we strive to provide you with valuable information and insights that can enhance your knowledge and practice, as well as provide a forum for connecting and sharing with members who have similar professional interests.

Educational Webinars and offerings:
Our section has been active in offering 3 webinars, as well as completing a handbook entitled Evaluation and Management of the Abused Patient: Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Neglect which will be available on the ACEP website this fall.

• Our first webinar entitled ‘Becoming a forensic medical expert’ with Dr. Dan Fields, a veteran in our field who specializes in expert testimony, reviewed concepts, principles and tips for expert witnessing.
• Our second webinar featuring Dr. William Green and Gerald Fineman JD reviewed the controversies and limitations surrounding the use of alternate light sources in diagnosing occult bruises from strangulation.
• Our final webinar entitled ‘Everything you wanted to know about becoming a SANE director’ featuring Dr. Ralph Riviello, Dr. Sally Henin and Dr. Mike Weaver covered key elements and considerations in establishing and directing a sexual assault forensic evaluation program.

These webinars are available free of charge and can be found on demand at ACEP’s Online Learning Center.

Our section continues to explore opportunities for collaboration and ways to contribute to the body of knowledge of forensics. Some of our members have submitted proposals for the off-track curricula for ACEP 24. Dr. Riviello and Dr. Rozzi contribute a regular column in ACEP now, entitled ‘Forensic Facts’ which offers forensic pearls. Some of their recent articles have covered forensic evaluation of motor vehicle crashes, strangulation evaluation, child abuse evaluation, intimate partner sexual assault, physicians managing medical and legal duties, and much more.

We are looking for input and ideas from our membership for topics for future webinars of interest to our section. We are also looking for suggestions for a speaker (in person, or virtual) for our fall section meeting at ACEP. Please contact me if you have suggestions.

Section Meeting/Hall Crawl at ACEP 2024:
Our section meeting at ACEP Scientific Assembly in Las Vegas will be held on September 29th, from 2:30-4:30pm at the Mandalay Bay Resort (room tba). Please join us after for the Hall Crawl (9/29 6-8pm) where our section will host a table with fun events, including a scavenger hunt.

Section Elections:
Would you like to be more involved in our section? Do you have innovative ideas? We will be holding elections for our section leadership during our section meeting at ACEP24. Please nominate yourself, or someone else for a position, including Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Social media/newsletter editor, Councillor and Alternate Councillor. Send your nomination to Maude Surprenant Hancock, interim staff liaison via email by August 15th

Finally, we hope to see many of you in person, or virtually at our section meeting in Las Vegas in October. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Best regards,

Judy Linden MD, MA-SANE, FACEP
Chair, ACEP Forensic Section