Introducing Delaware County’s New Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Albert Chu

Released: October 20, 2023

Introducing Delaware County’s New Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Albert Chu

Delaware County Council recently appointed Dr. Albert Chu to serve as the County’s Chief Medical Examiner.

The mission of the Medical Examiner is to conduct expert medicolegal investigations into deaths that occur under statutorily prescribed circumstances. The findings of these investigations are then independently shared with members of the public and relevant agencies to improve public safety and health. Dr. Chu will lead the Medical Examiner’s office and its departments including Administration, Autopsy, Evidence, Forensic Investigation, and Morgue Operations.

Dr. Chu completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland. Prior to becoming Chief Medical Examiner, he served as an Assistant Medical Examiner at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas, and as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia.

“The ultimate goal is to create a Medical Examiner’s office that optimally serves our stakeholders – including family members, funeral homes, organ procurement organizations, law enforcement, attorneys, courts, hospitals, educational institutions, and public health agencies – by means of employing best practices and utilizing up-to-date technology, “said Dr. Chu.

Steps to fulfill this goal include addressing staffing issues, training new and current employees, and developing policies and procedures that will allow the Medical Examiner’s office to standardize and optimize best work practices. Future plans include the design and construction of a new, state of the art facility that will replace the County’s current aging building. Relocation into this facility will then allow the office to apply for accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME).

“Accreditation by NAME would be tangible recognition that we are successfully providing the highest quality of medicolegal death investigation for the County,” said Dr. Chu.

More information regarding the Office of the Medial Examiner can be found here: https://delcopa.gov/meo/index.html