EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Michael J. Dobersen, M.D., Ph.D.

Michael J. Dobersen is a Forensic Pathologist and the Coroner/Medical Examiner for Arapahoe County, Colorado, a position which he has held since September, 1993. 

He is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, as well as the past president of the Colorado Coroner’s Association.

Dr. Dobersen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and earned his undergraduate degree in zoology and medical technology from Kent State University. 

He received a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1976. 

This was followed by a 10-year period during which he carried out basic medical research in the fields of diabetes and multiple sclerosis at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

He then attended medical school at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and obtained an M.D. degree in 1989. 

This was followed by a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, which was carried out at the University of Colorado, affiliated hospitals. 

Forensic Pathology training was carried out at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office in Seattle, Washington.

He is Board Certified in Anatomic, Clinical and Forensic Pathology. 

Dr. Dobersen then became the Coroner/Medical Examiner for Arapahoe County, Colorado, a position, which he presently holds.

Dr. Dobersen with his DMORT team activated to serve at the morgue unit in St. Gabriel, Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. DMORT is a disaster response team which is part of National Disaster Medical Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

He has consulted in national high profile cases such at the JonBenet Ramsey murder, the Columbine High School shootings and the 1994 Steamboat Springs “Black Widow” case.  He was also called to assist after the World Trade Center terrorist attack and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  He is often asked to perform autopsies for other counties in Colorado and consult on cases throughout the country.

Dr. Dobersen has approximately 80 publications in a wide range of subjects and lectures extensively in various aspects of Forensic Science.