Media Contact: Christopher Harris, (216) 443-7157; cbharris@cuyahogacounty.us

Now accepting applications; Academy begins September 26

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson announced the fall dates of the popular Citizens Academy program. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office is now accepting applications for the academy, which will begin on September 26, 2024.

"The Citizens Academy represents the best opportunity for our community to see the inner workings of the Medical Examiner's Office and Crime Laboratory," said Dr. Gilson. "The Academy lets the participants see the broad scope of high-quality forensic work performed at the agency and interact with the professional staff doing this work. This reinforces Executive Ronayne's vision of the importance of transparent public service to our community."

The academy, held at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, will meet Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Residents can expect to participate in lectures, case reviews, and hands-on demonstrations from doctors, scientists, and investigators. Some of the topics include:

• Forensic Pathology
• Toxicology
• Death Investigation
• Trace Evidence
• And more

"Our Citizens Academy is our most popular community program by far," said Christopher Harris, External Affairs Manager for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. "We encourage residents to apply and better understand how our agency works."

The Citizens Academy is free of charge and open to all eligible residents. For more information or to download the application, please visit mecitizensacademy.com.

All applications should be completed and submitted to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office by August 31, 2024. Applications may also be submitted via e-mail to cbharris@cuyahogacounty.us.