Dr. Oluwaseun Ogunbona and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Gerald T. Gowitt partner to launch the nation's first HBCU-sponsored forensic pathology fellowship aimed at increasing diversity and addressing critical physician shortages on July 1, 2025 (DeKalb …
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office and Morehouse School of Medicine have launched the nation's first HBCU-sponsored forensic pathology fellowship, welcoming its first fellow on July 1.
DeKalb medical fellowship
What we know:
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office and Morehouse School of Medicine welcomed Dr. Oluwaseun Ogunbona on July 1 as the first fellow in their new program.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited the one-year fellowship on April 24, 2025, making it the first forensic pathology fellowship in the country sponsored by a Historically Black College and University.
Pathology training expansion
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet detailed how many applicants applied for the inaugural position or when applications will open for the next fellowship cycle.
Addressing physician shortages
The backstory:
Dr. Gerald T. Gowitt, DeKalb County’s chief medical examiner and director of fellowship training, said Forensic Medicine Associates, Inc., and DeKalb County have worked together for nearly 27 years.
The new fellowship aims to address the nationwide shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists and increase diversity in the field.
During his training, Dr. Ogunbona will learn medicolegal death investigations, forensic autopsy practice, courtroom testimony and forensic science under the guidance of board-certified forensic pathologists.
Public service impact
What they're saying:
"By partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine, we are helping cultivate the next generation of forensic pathologists while strengthening a workforce that better reflects the diverse communities we serve," said Beoncia Loveless, director of operations for the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dr. Ogunbona called the opportunity groundbreaking and added, "I hope my journey encourages other aspiring physicians, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to consider forensic pathology as a meaningful career dedicated to science, justice and public service."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the DeKalb County Communications Department, who issued an official press release detailing the new fellowship program.