Olivia Alford

Period 1&2

Career Journal: 1.1.3, 1.1.6

Medical Examiner:
o Education: Doctor of medicine degree (MD)
Before applying to med school, students hoping to be a medical
examiner have to get an undergraduate degree and take pre-med
prerequisites in chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics
and math. Its helpful for students wishing to be a medical
examiner to take forensic pathology elective courses as an
undergraduate.
o What do they do?
Medical examiners examine a deceased persons body to
determine factors like the time of death and the cause of death.
They must document their findings and they are often called upon
in court cases to give their information when there was a crime
involved in the death. Medical examiners often have to perform
autopsies, decide the manner of the death and sometimes
identify the body if it was not already done at the scene of death.
o Salary Range:
The American Medical Group Association recorded the median
salary for medical examiners at about $354,750 per year.
o Sources:
Fred Decker. What Does A Medical Examiner Get Paid? Retrieved
from http://work.chron.com/medical-examiner-paid5217.html
ExploreHealthCareers.org. (2014, September 9). Retrieved
September 10, 2014.
o Self-Reflection:
The medical examiner is related to what we are studying because
Annas body has to be examined to determine her time of death
and how she died. I actually am really interested in becoming a
medical examiner or coroner. I think it would be really cool to

Olivia Alford
Period 1&2

examine peoples bodies even though its probably going to cause

me to have nightmares for the rest of my life.

911 Operator:
o Education: GED or high school diploma
o What do they do?
911 Operators have to be able to stay calm in every
situation to help the caller stay calm as well and be assured
that they are going to get help in their situation. Operators are
expected to be willing to work odd shifts and work holidays and
be on-call at all times to go into work. They are expected to be
fast typers and good problem solvers. Additional requirements
include:
a. determine nature and location of an emergency
b. dispatch police, fire ambulance or other emergency
units as necessary
c. follow status of responders until they reach the caller
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o Salary Range:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean
hourly salary of 911 dispatchers was $17.53 in May 2009. The
annual average salary is about $36,470.
o Sources:
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Ests (March 26, 2012). What it Takes to Be a
911 Emergency Dispatcher: Education, Record, Coursework,
Apprenticeship, Continuing Ed. Retrieved from
http://themoderatevoice.com/142593/what-it-takes-to-be-a911-emergency-dispatcher-education-record-courseworkapprenticeship-continuing-ed/
Dispatch Magazine On-Line (October 3, 2013). Retrieved from
http://www.911dispatch.com/job-descriptions/
o Self-Reflection:
This persons career is related to what we are studying because
Annas neighbor had to call 911 after he was worried about her

Olivia Alford
Period 1&2

recent behavior. I think it would be very cool to be a 911

dispatcher and help people in their time of emergency, but after
seeing the movie The Call, I dont think I would be able to do it.
I would probably get too stressed out trying to help the person out
of their situation because Im not physically with them to help
them.