Original Release Date: June 9, 2023
In episode one of our Resilient Leadership mini season, Just Science sat down with Jamilla Dick-Quashie, Director of Health and Safety, and Meredith Rosenberg, the Department of Forensic Biology Deputy Director, with the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to discuss their most successful strategies for creating a resilient workplace in the field of forensic science.
In general, the forensic science workplace can be emotionally and physically taxing, as practitioners are expected to maintain a high quality of work while often being exposed to stressful or sensitive situations. In response to this challenge, many forensic science organizations are implementing mental health and resiliency programs that can help combat burnout and create a more adaptable workplace for their employees. Listen along as Jamilla and Meredith describe what it means to be a resilient workplace, the specific strategies utilized by the OCME, and suggestions for other organizations looking to find resources on workplace mental health.
This episode of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (Award #: 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU).
Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
View or download the episode transcript here:
Transcript
Episode Citation
Swanholm, B., Dick-Quashie, J., & Rosenberg, M. (2023, May 2). Just Science. Just Thriving in a Forensic Workplace. [Audio podcast episode]. The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. https://forensiccoe.org/podcast-2023-resilient-leadership-workplace/
Related Resource
Guest Biography
Jamilla Dick-Quashie is the Director of Health and Safety at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). With over 15 years of experience as a health and safety specialist, Jamilla oversees all matters related to health and safety programs, policies, and procedures at OCME, while working closely with other city agencies and labor unions to ensure compliance with government regulations. Jamilla also chairs the Wellness Committee at OCME which was convened in 2017. This committee has partnered with New York City agencies and vendors to launch unique and tailored wellness initiatives and coordinated agency-wide events for over 700 OCME employees. She works closely with WorkWell NYC, New York City’s workplace wellness program, as an Ambassador and Site Coordinator. In December 2020, Jamilla was awarded the city government’s Frederick O'Reilly Hayes Prize for her outstanding effort in helping the OCME respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This response included adapting protective protocols for the morgues, instituting COVID-19 testing procedures, application of safety guidelines and providing wellness resources for all employees working for and with the OCME. Jamilla completed her Master of Science in Marine and Atmospheric Science at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her interests lie in workplace safety and wellbeing ranging from design to implementation of new plans and procedures in academic institutions as well as government agencies. Jamilla is an Adjunct Professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) where she has been a faculty member since 2007.
Born and bred in New York City, Meredith Rosenberg has worked for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner Department of Forensic Biology for 24 years. In that time, she has worked as a casework analyst, a manager of the Property Crimes Group, a manager of the Low Sensitivity Group, a Quality Assurance Manager for 6 years, and is currently a Deputy Director of the laboratory. She is a member of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS), International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG), and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD). She is also a member of the National DNA Index System (NDIS) Audit Review Panel, an ASCLD Accreditation Initiative Mentor, and enjoys visiting other parts of the world while performing ISO and FBI QAS audits of laboratories.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast episode are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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