Dr. Lance Van Truong, D.O.
In early 2025, the Arkansas State Crime Lab is launching a new Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program.
The forensic pathology fellowship program is a collaborative initiative between the ASCL and the Department of Pathology of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS).
The fellowship’s mission is to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of Arkansans. It aims to educate professional, board-qualified forensic pathologists to deliver competent, independent forensic pathology services to the families, communities, and stakeholders they serve.
In the United States, there are 49 forensic pathology fellowship programs. The ASCL-UAMS program is one of 36 programs certified to participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
This year, the match process highlighted the continued shortage of forensic pathologists in the United States. Of the 36 certified forensic pathology fellowship programs, only 15 programs filled their full complement of forensic pathology fellow positions. Furthermore, only 37 pathology residents applied to a forensic pathology fellowship program, representing an approximate 20% decrease in the number of applicants from the previous year.
Newly appointed Crime Lab Director Dr. Ted Brown said this along with the new facility will be a game changer for the lab and will allow law enforcement to solve crimes in Arkansas faster.
The ASCL is pleased to announce that Dr. Lance Van Truong, D.O., has been matched as ASCL’s first forensic pathology fellow. “Recruiting Dr. Truong to Arkansas is a game changer for us. He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving others and will continue to set the bar high as we partner with our Arkansas stakeholders to deeply understand how and why Arkansans are dying and how we can best work together to prevent future deaths,” said Dr. Brown, ASCL Director and Chief Medical Examiner.
“Despite the critical shortage of forensic pathologists nationwide, I am proud that our state has chosen to do something about this deficiency. The success of our newly accredited forensic pathology fellowship program reflects our continued commitment to provide excellent forensic science services to Arkansas by best positioning our team to recruit the very best rising forensic pathologist champions like Dr. Truong,” Dr. Brown said. “We are thrilled to match with a physician of Dr. Truong’s caliber. Our future continues to get brighter as we remain steadfast in our commitment to best serve Arkansas together.”
Republished courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.