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Forensic Focus 2003 Draws 200-Plus Industry Professionals
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- More than 200 forensic
nurses, medical examiners, crime lab directors, police officers
and members of the legal community gathered at the first-ever Forensic
Focus 2003 conference, produced by Virgo Publishing, Inc., publisher
of forensic nurse.
The event, underwritten by platinum sponsors Olympic,
Polaroid and Wallach, and silver sponsors Elsevier, Puritan and
Whatman, was held at the Millennium Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.
and celebrated the contributions forensic nurses have made to the
forensic science community.
"Forensic nurses are an idea whose time has come,"
declared renowned forensic pathologist Michael Baden, MD, who presented
"Poisons in Questionable Hospital Deaths" and was part of the panel
presentation, "Successful Prosecution of Doctors, Nurses and Healthcare
Professionals Who Kill," with FBI special agent Brian Donnelly,
PhD and Bruce Sackman of the Inspector General's Office.
About 100 attendees participated in the pre-conference
workshops on June 17, featuring noted experts such as Charles Wetli,
MD, chief medical examiner in the division of medico-legal investigations
and forensic sciences at the Sidney B. Weinberg Center for Forensic
Sciences in Suffolk County, N.Y.; Patrick Besant-Matthews, MD, a
forensic pathologist and forensic photography expert in Dallas,
Texas; Nancy Cabelus, MSN, RN, DABFN, a Connecticut state trooper
and detective in the Connecticut State Police crime squad; and Janet
M. Barber, MSN, RN, a pioneer in forensic nursing education. Workshops
addressed important topics including courtroom testimony, forensic
photography, and evidence collection and preservation. Also part
of the pre-conference slate was the well-attended presentation by
forensic pathologist Mary Dudley, MD, MSN, BSN, RN, and forensic
nurse Diana Schunn, RN, BSN, SANE-A on a quadruple homicide that
was examined from crime scene to trial.
On the morning of the first day of the conference,
June 18, participants enjoyed a continental breakfast and time to
visit with industry representatives from Elsevier, Bode Technology,
Polaroid, Olympus, Whatman and Lightyear. Representatives demonstrated
for attendees the latest in tools, technologies and resources to
help make their jobs easier, as well as to discuss trends in forensic
science and forensic nursing.
The morning's plenary session featured presentations
from Michael Baden, MD on "Posions in Questionable Hospital Deaths"
and (former forensic nurse) Mary Dudley, MD on "Roles of the Forensic
Nurse in Forensic Medical Investigations." An Italian-themed buffet
lunch and time for exhibits was followed in the afternoon by Barry
Fisher's presentation, "Making the Most of Sexual Assault Evidence."
As crime lab director for the Los Angles County Sheriff's Department,
Fisher is a champion of forensic nurses and the important role they
play in identifying, collecting, preserving and documenting trade
evidence. Sharon Crowley, RN, MN, FCNS, delivered her presentation,
"Postmortem Genital Examinations With Colposcopy," followed by William
Smock, MD, FACEP's popular presentation on "Practical Applications
for Clinical Forensic Medicine in the ER."
The educational sessions were followed by vendor presentations
from Polaroid and Olympus. Polaroid's Dan Cavazos shared with attendees
numerous tips on documenting evidence through forensic photography,
while forensic chemist Robert Blackledge explained the growing importance
of glitter as trace evidence and the ability to view it through
new digital microscope technology.
The busy first day continued in the evening with book
signings by Michael Baden, William Smock, Barry Fisher, Diana Faugno,
Tascha Spears, Charles Wetli, Sharon Crowley and Mary Dudley. Attendees
gladly lined up for the opportunity to have their books signed and
get their photos taken with forensic science's best and brightest.
Following a continental breakfast and time with exhibitors,
attendees were faced with a tantalizing choice of concurrent sessions
by noted experts Charles Wetli, MD ("Sudden Death Related to Sexual
Activity"); Tascha Spears, PhD, RN ("Ritual Trauma: Forensic Considerations");
Janet Barber, MSN, RN and Belinda Howell, BSN (Death in Custody");
and John Piakis, DDS, DABFO ("Forensic Dentistry"). Sated from a
Mexican-themed buffet lunch, there were few sleepyheads during afternoon
sessions presented by Paulette Sutton, MS, MT, ACSP, CLS ("Bloodstain
Pattern Interpretation"); Brian Donnelly, PhD ("Chemical and Biological
Warfare"); Pamela Assod, BSN, MSN ("Use of Forensic Nursing in the
Wartime Environment"); Diana Faugno, BSN, RN, FAAFS ("Strangulation
Injuries and Documentation Tools for the Forensic Examiner"); Lt.
Brad Simpson ("Evidence Collection in Domestic Violence Cases");
and Patrick Besant-Matthews, MD ("Clinical Forensics and Methods
of Investigation").
One of the highlights of the conference was the dinner
and keynote address on Thursday evening. Presentations were made
to forensic nurses and VA employees Mary Sullivan and Barbara Spence-O'Donnell
for their contributions to forensic nurse and Forensic Focus 2003,
and a special Forensic Nursing Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed
upon Janet M. Barber, a long-time critical care nurse, a pioneer
of forensic nursing and a noted author, lecturer and mentor to forensic
nurses across the country. The presentations were made while dinner
guests feasted on salmon and chicken and networked with other attendees
and speakers.
Delivering the dynamic keynote address was former
FBI agent and psychiatric nurse Candice DeLong, who presented a
fascinating case on vampire murders in Sacramento, Calif. DeLong
is author of "Special Agent: My Life on the Front Lines as a Woman
in the FBI," is the host of a new Lifetime Television reality series,
"What Should You Do?" and is a noted lecturer and forensic news
commentator. During her keynote address DeLong fielded questions
from the audience and later signed copies of her book for an eager
crowd. Earlier in the day, DeLong appeared on a morning segment
on local television station Channel 3, where she shared stories
from her FBI days and discussed her exciting career.
The final day of Forensic Focus 2003, June 20, began
with a continental breakfast and segued into the standing-room-only
presentation of "Successful Prosecution of Doctors, Nurses and Healthcare
Professionals Who Kill," delivered in three segments by Bruce Sackman,
Brian Donnelly and Michael Baden, described affectionately as the
"killer Bs" by attendees. Sackman discussed the Veterans Administrations'
successful investigation of hospital serial killers such as Michael
Swango, Kristen Gilbert and Richard Williams, while Donnelly, a
pharmacist and toxicologist, discussed the role of poisons in patient
deaths. Baden presented fascinating cases of suspected criminal
deaths through exhumation and trial, and the panel wrapped up with
a lively question-and-answer session that answered participants'
queries.
More than 100 Forensic Focus 2003 attendees stayed
for the dynamic Forensic Nursing Career-Building Seminar, delivered
by Janet Barber, MSN, RN, a former colonel in the U.S. Air Force
Nursing Corps. Barber discussed the exciting opportunities that
exist for forensic nurses, and how nurses can create new roles for
themselves in hospitals and in the industry.
Here's what attendees had to say about Forensic
Focus 2003:
"I have never before attended a conference where I
rated all of the speakers as excellent." --D.A.
"I was impressed with the helpfulness of everyone
I encountered." -- J.B.
"I like to stay current and ahead of the curve. It
was nice to know what is going on in forensic nursing and to hear
about what others are doing and have accomplished." -- N.C.
"Excellent format, pertinent subjects. Good job!"
-- J.C. "Excellent conference. I am very excited about the future
I may have in forensics." -- B.C.
"This has been one of the best conferences I've attended.
Way to go for your first time out! I will be attending further conferences."
-- L.C.
"All of the speakers were incredible! I can't wait
until next year." -- E.D.
"This conference met the needs for advanced levels
of clinical knowledge that has been needed." C.G.
"I am very impressed. I could not tell it was your
first conference." -- D.R.
"The bar has been raised for subsequent speaker. You
struck gold on this conference. Thank you so much." --D.A.
"A job well done. Great success for the first conference
and I hope it continues." -- D.S.
"Excellent program! Excellent speakers! I want to
sign up for next year." -- S.S.
"Size of the conference was perfect. One really had
a chance to get to know the speakers and other attendees." -- R.B.
"This was my first forensic conference and I learned
so much." -- A.K.
"This was a great first exposure to this interesting
area of nursing." -- W.P.
"The best, most useful conference I have attended
in eight years." -- S.A.
"Great variety of speakers and expertise. I'm looking
forward to next year." --T.C. "The conference was enlightening and
most enjoyable. It really opened my interest to forensic opportunities
which I intend to pursue." L.K.
"It was obvious that great care and consideration
was given to the attendees' needs, whatever they may be." --D.A.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the
first-ever Forensic Focus 2003 conference.
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