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Medicolegal Death Investigators Training

Saint Louis University's 40-hour Medicolegal Death Investigators Training Course provides individuals with information on conducting scientific, systematic and thorough death scene and telephone investigations for medical examiner and coroner offices.

The basic training is equally valuable to police officers, coroners, physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, attorneys, forensic scientists and others involved in investigating violent, suspicious or unexpected deaths that fall under the jurisdiction of medicolegal authorities.

For those who have completed the introductory training, the Masters Advanced Death Investigator Conference is held biannually and covers current topics that have emerged since the previous masters conference. 

About the Training

This course aims to provide information to individuals who work in or work with medicolegal offices. This course is intended as an introductory course for those new to medicolegal death investigation. Participants learn to develop the essential facts regarding the death scene, medical history and other information that assists medical examiners or coroners in determining a person's cause and manner of death.

Lectures are presented by forensic specialists on all major categories of deaths that occur in medicolegal jurisdictions, with particular emphasis placed on the investigator's role in the death investigation. Because most presenters are from the St. Louis area, medicolegal procedures of the local jurisdictions are presented; however, many of these procedures can be transferred to your jurisdiction.

The course teaches the 29 national guidelines set forth in the National Institutes of Justice 1999 publication, "Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator." Participants are instructed in the proper way to disseminate information to forensic scientists and law enforcement personnel so that a coordinated, efficient and complete death investigation can be achieved.

This course emphasizes the medical aspects of death investigation and is not designed to be a homicide seminar. This course is designed as an introductory level course. Experienced death investigators seeking information beyond the basic introductory information presented in the basic course should consider our Masters Death Investigation Course. 

Medicolegal Death Investigator Conference, March 11-14, 2024 

Registration is open for the March 11-14, 2024 conference.

Register for the Conference

Course Director

MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant, Ph.D., D-ABFA, D-ABMDI
Forensic Anthropologist
Adjunct Associate Professor 
Co-Chair Forensic Education
Department of Pathology
Saint Louis of University School of Medicine

For registration questions for the basic or advanced course, email cme@health.slu.edu or call 314-977-7401 and speak to CME Program Director Amanda Sain.

Information for University Students

College Credit and Student Rates

Attendance at this course qualifies for two hours of college credit through Saint Louis University for students pursuing graduate or undergraduate degrees and those interested in being eligible for the student conference rate. Fees for college credits are $700 per credit hour for undergraduates and $580 per credit hour for graduate students.

SLU Students

$250 Course Registration Fee

To help offset the additional cost of SLU tuition for the two hours of college credit, there are a limited number of reduced MLDI conference student spots for those who qualify. Student registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and as registration capacity permits.

Non-SLU Students

$475 Course Registration Fee

Non-SLU students interested in obtaining SLU college credit for attending this course may also receive a reduced student conference rate. Inquiries regarding fees and eligibility requirements may be directed to the SLU CME Office at 314-977-7401 or cme@health.slu.edu. You will need to submit a letter of request, on appropriate school letterhead, from your advisor or department chair stating that this course would benefit your studies, and that SLU credits would transfer and be accepted toward your degree. Scan and email the document to cme@health.slu.edu. Conference fees must be paid in full before the conference to hold your spot.

Separate registration with Saint Louis University for college credit will be completed on the first day of the conference, and you will be billed for the college tuition fees.

For additional information on SLU college credit; for any questions or to express your intent to enroll for college credit, please contact Barb Weekley at barbara.weekley@slu.edu.