They specialize in determining the causes of sudden, unexpected or violent deaths. But according to the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. is facing a critical shortage of these professionals.

For many people, forensic pathology seems forbidding and dark. It deals intimately with death, crime, and disaster and is most often represented through the artifice of television shows and movies.

"While that is part of our role, the scope of forensic pathology goes far beyond autopsy examinations," Dr. Folkerth continued. "In addition to performing the final diagnostic evaluation of a person ...

There are not enough forensic pathologists to investigate deaths the city of Denver's fellowship program is trying to make a ...