A Florida medical examiner set to take over as San Francisco’s chief medical examiner in March will inherit a large case backlog and construction of a new facility, city officials said today.
Dr. Michael Hunter’s appointment was announced today by City Administrator Naomi Kelly.
Hunter brings 10 years of experience as chief medical examiner in two different Florida jurisdictions, and has worked in medical examiner’s offices in Florida for 15 years, according to the city.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
As medical examiner, his office is responsible for determining the cause, circumstances and manner of death for numerous cases in the city including homicides, suicides, auto accidents, industrial incidents, unidentified patients or patients with no attending physicians or where the death might be due to contagious disease.
He will also oversee a large case backlog and a planned transition to a new facility.
“I am confident Dr. Hunter is up to the challenge of not only reducing the city’s current case backlog,” Kelly said, “but also leading the office in the 21st century by modernizing equipment, data systems, office protocols and overseeing the construction of the new medical examiner facility which will break ground this summer.”
Mayor Ed Lee said, “His strong management skills and proven track record will help bring necessary reforms to the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office and successfully deliver a state of the art medical facility in our city.”
Scott Morris, Bay City News
