Categories
Alumni Spotlight

Dr. Julie Fleischman

We are very excited to feature our next MSUFAL alumna, Dr. Julie Fleischman, D-ABFA!

Dr. Fleischman is a board certified Forensic Anthropologist at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). The HCIFS is the Medical Examiner’s Office and Crime Laboratory in Houston, Texas where Dr. Fleischman serves as a direct consultant to the Institute’s Forensic Pathologists and to local law enforcement agencies. Her job primarily involves the analysis and interpretation of human skeletal and cartilaginous traumatic injuries, but she is also responsible for determining whether remains are human or non-human, clandestine burial search and recovery, and estimating the biological profile and identification of unknown decedents from their skeletal remains.

Dr. Fleischman received both a Master of Science (Forensic Science) and a Master of Arts (Anthropology) degree from Michigan State University, continuing on for her PhD in Physical and Biological Anthropology. She received a Fulbright IIE U.S. Student Program research grant for her dissertation work on Khmer Rouge regime violence, evaluating skeletal trauma and the socio-cultural response to human remains from this violent period in Cambodia. In college, Dr. Fleischman first learned about forensic anthropology through Clea Koff’s The Bone Woman. She was drawn to the wealth of information a forensic anthropologist can get from osseous material. She says Koff’s work revealed an avenue for assisting communities through recovering and identifying unknown decedents, especially those killed during conflicts. She continues “this book sparked my academic and personal goals to provide a voice for the missing and to help answer questions about how and/or why they died.”

With such high caseloads at the medical examiner’s office, finding time for research can be challenging. However, Dr. Fleischman and her HCIFS colleagues have been exploring pediatric skeletal trauma since it is one of the most frequently requested anthropological analyses at HCIFS, particularly analyzing cases of potential abuse.  Dr. Fleischman says she and her colleagues at the ME’s office have been investigating posterior defects of pediatric ribs. This research revealed defects that are more congruous with growth and development anomalies rather than fracture patterns. “[Our] research has proved to be a cautionary tale in over-interpreting pediatric ‘injuries’ for both our forensic anthropologists and pathologists.” Her experience at MSU, specifically the varied coursework, was extremely helpful for her current career at HCIFS, especially the MSUFAL forensic radiology and photography courses. Her job frequently requires the comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs to assist with decedent identifications and these courses allowed her the practical experience she needed.  Dr. Fleischman says “[i]t was also a privilege to work in the [MSU] Forensic Anthropology Laboratory where I had hands-on case experience and was able to draft case reports.  Granted, nothing prepares you for having to recover human remains from a sewer, in full hazmat gear, in the middle of a Texas summer!”

Dr. Fleischman believes everyone’s experiences in the field are different; there is not a single way to get where you want to be. She has a few pieces of key advice for current and future students pursuing forensic anthropology:

1) Make sure that forensic anthropology is truly something you want to dedicate your life to. This is a field with numerous hurdles that have to be overcome in order to succeed. I typically suggest that students begin with a terminal Master’s degree program to determine if they want to commit an additional 5-8 years pursuing further education, research, and potentially taking various jobs before securing a permanent position.

2) If you are interested in the field of forensic anthropology, I highly recommend having a broad educational background, beginning as an undergraduate. As the field of forensic anthropology advances, additional skills and knowledge are going to be highly beneficial. For example, I suggest that undergraduate students pursue courses in biology, chemistry, criminal justice, human anatomy, and law (mock trials) in addition to anthropology and archaeology courses. At the graduate level, courses in growth and development/embryology, histology, dental anthropology and/or odontology, biomechanics, and medical imaging will be beneficial.

While Dr. Fleischman misses the Michigan seasons— especially fall, the changing leaves on campus, and visiting local apple orchards for cider and donuts— she does not miss the snow and bitter cold of winter. Her fondest memories as an MSU student are the life-long friends she made while in graduate school. “Graduate school is challenging and having friends/peers working alongside you and providing support is the best part of being a student. These friendships have been invaluable in the post-student/professional realm as well.”

Thank you Dr. Julie Fleischman for sharing your insights into the field, reflections of MSU, and all of your advice to future students!

Authored by: Micayla Spiros

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *