FORENSICs CONNECTIONS A REPORT ON ILLINOIS FORENSIC PERFORMANCE IN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION
PONNI ARUNKUMAR, MD:
SAVING LIVES AND TAKING ‘NAMEs’ “As forensic pathologists, we can also help families through organ and tissue donation.” When Ponni Arunkumar, MD, Cook County Chief Medical Examiner (CCME), walks into work, she knows each day will be fast-paced and different from the last. A wife and mother of three, Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, MD, Arunkumar thrives Cook County Chief in her everyday Medical Examiner duties whether she is performing examinations and autopsies, testifying in a court case, supervising assistant medical examiners or managing day-to-day operations.
THE ROAD TO ACCREDITAtION
Appointed to the helm of the celebrated office on July 13, 2016, by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Dr. Arunkumar has a long affiliation with the county and office where she started as an Assistant Medical Examiner in 2004 and experienced the organization’s previous challenges firsthand. Under the leadership of former Chief Medical Examiner Stephen Cina, MD, Dr. Arunkumar oversaw a complete overhaul of policies and procedures that led to the office receiving full accreditation from the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME).
Reaching that point required full support from the Cook County Board to effectively address deficiencies in procedures and staffing. The Preckwinkle administration provided increased financial support, which allowed the CCME to hire 12 additional forensic pathologists. Increasing staff was key to obtaining accreditation because NAME’s accreditation criteria limit forensic pathologists to performing no more than 325 autopsies per year. Additionally, Preckwinkle appointed strong leaders to guide the office through aggressive policy and procedure reform.
EXCELLENCE IN THE FAcE OF ADVERSITY Despite the CCME’s past challenges, the office, which handles about 5,600 cases and performs nearly 3,000 autopsies annually, has historically supported the release of tissue and organs for donation whenever possible. Organ refusals have dropped from five in 2011 to zero through October 2016. So far in 2016, the CCME has released 90 cases for organ donation and 236 cases for tissue donation.
Dr. Arunkumar underscores the importance of maintaining open collaboration with Gift of Hope in support of organ and tissue donation. “Although our work involves investigating cause of death with the deceased, donation allows us to save and bring hope to many living people, especially with tissue,” explained Dr. Arunkumar. “In cases where the organs are absolutely necessary to help determine the cause and manner of death, the office would not release the body for organ recovery.
However, we may be able to release the body for tissue donation in such cases. We try to do this prior to the body coming here to ensure that the recovery rate is higher and faster.” Dr. Arunkumar has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the CCME’s office and the communities it serves and has also been a long-time supporter of organ and tissue donation. “Gift of Hope has had a strong and successful relationship with the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, which is extremely important to saving and enhancing lives,” said Shaun Martin, who serves as the primary liaison between Gift of Hope and the CCME’s office in his role as Manager of Forensic and Tissue Relations. “She and her office are strong supporters of donation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to offer hope and life to others through donation.” Asked about the positive impact that the forensics industry can bring to organ and tissue donation, Dr. Arunkumar said, “As physicians, we want to help people. Every day I review the cases in which the release of organs for donation was denied in order to make sure that all eligible donations take place. We have an important role in public health, and as forensic pathologists we can also help people through organ and tissue donation.”
GiftofHope.org