Cline-Parhamovich Named Chief Medical Examiner

NASHVILLE – Karen Cline-Parhamovich, DO, DABP, has been named chief medical examiner for Tennessee. She has served as interim chief medical examiner and deputy chief medical examiner for East Tennessee since December, 2010.

“We’re very pleased Dr. Cline-Parhamovich has accepted the challenging and important position of chief medical examiner,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “In this new role, she will help us improve the process of death investigations across Tennessee. Accurately documenting cause of death helps to address concerns of family members, particularly when a loved one dies not attended by a medical provider. Equally important are the data we obtain that help us focus on needed statewide population health improvements, and the information and evidence gathered to aid law enforcement officials in criminal investigations.”

While directing Tennessee’s post-mortem system, Cline-Parhamovich’s responsibilities will include developing and providing continuing education to all county medical examiners and medical investigators; providing consultations to law enforcement officers; overseeing reimbursements for post-mortem-related expenses and supervising the development and updating of guidelines for death investigations and forensic autopsies.

“It’s been an honor to serve in an interim capacity for the last 18 months, working with many remarkable individuals across Tennessee,” Cline-Parhamovich said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on additional leadership tasks in my new role, helping families, physicians, law enforcement personnel and others. How we treat the deceased and their families says a lot about who we are and the value we place on life, and I’m eager to continue helping Tennessee make improvements in this assignment.”

Cline-Parhamovich earned her Bachelor’s degree cum laude from Kent State University
and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following a clinical internship at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio, she completed a four-year anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia, which included one year as chief resident. She completed sub-specialty training as a forensic pathology fellow at the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque. Following fellowship, she worked as an associate medical investigator for the OMI. In 2009, she joined the staff of East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine and became director of the Division of Forensic Pathology in 2010.