Dr. Kona Williams

In April 2021, Dr. Martin Queen stepped down after 10 years and Dr. Kona Williams assumed the role of Medical Director at the North Eastern Regional Forensic Pathology Unit (NERFPU) and Laboratory Medical Director for Health Sciences North.

Dr. Williams is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit (PFPU) residency training program in Forensic Pathology. After working as a Forensic Pathologist at the PFPU, Dr. Williams moved to NERFPU  in 2018. She is an Assistant Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. As a person of First Nations descent (Cree and Mohawk), Dr. Williams is a role model for the Indigenous community, mentoring Indigenous youth and students and advocating for equality in Indigenous health care. She was appointed as First Nations Liaison for the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) and serves as an Ambassador for the Canadian Medical Association and on the Executive Board of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada.

We sincerely thank Dr. Queen for his dedicated and effective leadership of the Unit and his service for over 20 years. He remains a senior Forensic Pathologist at the NERFPU and in the OFPS.

Autopsies on opioid-related deaths and suspected drug-related deaths

The OFPS has seen an increase in overall caseload by about 30 per cent due to opioid-related deaths and suspected drug-related deaths (Chart 1).

Chart 1: Number of Autopsies in Opioid-related and Suspected Drug-Related Deaths in 2021 and 2022 Fiscal Year (FY)

Summary of Chart 1: 

  • 2020–2021 FY: PFPU 1641; FPUs 763; Community Hospitals 354. Total 2758 of 9723 autopsies (28.4%)
  • 2021–22 FY: PFPU 1931; FPUs 797; Community Hospitals 428. Total 3156 of 10381 autopsies (30.4%)

The OFPS combines its data on suspected drug-related autopsies with the OCC’s Opioid Investigative Aid database.

Nodding Syndrome research

Nodding Syndrome (NS) is an enigmatic African neurological disorder affecting thousands of children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the most vulnerable rural communities in Africa. The disease typically begins in childhood (5–15 years of age) with stereotypical head nodding, followed by epilepsy.

Based on our previous fieldwork and laboratory investigation of Nodding Syndrome in Uganda, the team has developed an ambitious 10-year inter-disciplinary research plan to study this puzzling disease as a progressive brain disease. We believe that our research may provide key insights into the cause and pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease because NS and Alzheimer disease share fundamental similarities.

In December 2021, Dr. Pollanen, Chief Forensic Pathologist, was cross- appointed to the Tanz Centre for Research for Neurodegenerative Diseases to increase collaboration and contribute to Nodding Syndrome research.

Supporting future Pathologist Assistant trainees

Each year, the PFPU provides training to students at University of Western Ontario’s (UWO) Master of Clinical Sciences – Pathologists’ Assistants and the University of Toronto Master of Health Sciences – Pathologists’ Assistants programs. Training at the PFPU lasts between four to six weeks during which the learners are taught about the medicolegal autopsy and develop their dissection skills.

In March 2022, UWO’s program was recommended for 10 years of continuing accreditation by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). NAACLS is one of the most important agencies for accreditation and approval of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related healthcare disciplines in North America. 

The PFPU is excited to continue to support the training of these Master’s students and the future workforce for forensic pathology.

Supporting international colleagues in Jamaica

Since 2011, the OFPS has partnered with universities and colleagues in Jamaica to strengthen capacity in forensic science and medicine in Jamaica. This multifaceted partnership is supported by the G. Raymond Chang Foundation and includes clinical fellowship training for Jamaican pathologists, as well as advocacy for forensic pathology. Construction of a purpose-built forensic facility began In February 2022.  The expected completion date is summer 2024.