San Diego County names Dr. Jonathan Lucas chief medical examiner
Dr Jonathan Lucas Photo courtesy of County News Center San Diego County has appointed Dr Jonathan Lucas as its next chief health examiner it was stated Friday Lucas will lead the county department charged with studying all sudden unexpected or unnatural deaths The chief healthcare examiner is appointed by the county s chief administrative officer and operates independently from law enforcement It is an honor to assume the role of chief health examiner Lucas explained I am committed to continuing the department s legacy of scientific excellence integrity transparency and organization to the district He succeeds Dr Steven Campman who is retiring after years of system including the last four years in the top role Lucas previously held leadership roles at both the San Diego and Los Angeles county healthcare examiner s offices From to he served as chief clinical examiner-coroner for Los Angeles County returning to San Diego in as chief deputy biological examiner Dr Lucas brings a depth of expertise and leadership that makes him exceptionally well-suited for this role mentioned Andrew Strong deputy chief administrative officer His experience in both San Diego and Los Angeles Counties along with his focus on innovation training and population physical condition will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen the work of the physiological examiner s office Lucas has participated in regional task forces focused on substance use and the opioid epidemic and worked collaboratively with group partners to monitor trends in deaths related to intoxication and injury according to a county announcement Over his career he has performed or supervised nearly autopsies responded to numerous death scenes and provided expert testimony in both criminal and civil proceedings He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from UC Riverside and his biological degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine Lucas completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at UCLA Clinical Center and his fellowship training in forensic pathology at the office of chief medicinal examiner in New York City He began his career with the San Diego County in and was promoted to chief deputy in San Diego County changed from a coroner to a medicinal examiner system in