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Uniting and transforming forensic sciences in a monumental pandemic year and beyond
Ropero-Miller, J. D. (2021). Uniting and transforming forensic sciences in a monumental pandemic year and beyond. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 66(1), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14639
As the 2020–2021 President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), I am honored to serve my profession and reflect on the accomplishments within the forensic sciences as we find transformative ways to unite in advancing our sciences, our performance, and our culture.
My professional experience is founded in my education, career, professional development, and service. Upon completing my formal education in clinical chemistry and forensic toxicology, my career began as a Senior Forensic Toxicologist at the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC-OCME) in 1998. My career continued as the joint Deputy Chief Toxicologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor at University of North Carolina while at NC-OCME before I transitioned from casework to research in 2004. Since then, I have authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters and presented nationally and internationally. My professional membership within the Academy began as a student in 1996 and in 1998, I presented for the first time at the AAFS Annual Meeting and received the Toxicology Section June K. Jones Scholarship in support of my graduate research. My service to the Academy began in 2003 and will continue into the future. My presidential theme, “One Academy Pursuing Justice Through Truth in Evidence,” chosen before the onset of COVID-19, also known as SARS-2 coronavirus and now referred to as SARS-CoV-2, represents the grassroots of the Academy mission. But now, as I reflect on 2020, I think that the theme could not have been a better fit as we responded to a global pandemic, the ongoing U.S. opioid epidemic and social unrest, and continued, global emerging drug threats. We all know that each of these public health and safety emergencies will leave an indelible mark on the forensic sciences community. As AAFS president, I have seen and am proud of how our community has stood together, unbowed by all of these unparalleled challenges, ready to serve, and always with integrity and commitment to finding answers, that in turn, supports our communities and helps humanity.
Every day, we as forensic scientists work under the mandate that we use current, evidenced-based practices. We work with the knowledge (and stress) that our performance and findings are directly informing pivotal court decisions that will, in turn, impact people, their families, and the communities that we serve. Our profession—regardless of forensic discipline—requires that we as forensic scientists constantly evolve, adopting unbiased technologies and policies as we set our collective course for continuous improvements, operational excellence, and contributing to a community of practice and knowledge. Each day, we, as forensic scientists, renew our commitment to prioritize reliability, competence, and professional ethics in each task we perform.
Like forensic scientists as a collective workforce, the AAFS has upheld its commitment to advancing the forensic sciences through its efforts in re-establishing its purpose; developing forensic standards; researching, educating, and training its members; committing to membership; using technological advancements; and supporting forensic professionals dealing with the global ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic in their already extremely demanding professions. By providing these valuable services, the AAFS can act as a model for organizational efforts in which forensic science is performed. I elaborate on each of these important topics below as I reflect on the accomplishments we have made together in 2020.