Dr. Dennis Klein has name state medical examiner

DES MOINES - Dr. Dennis Klein has been named as state medical examiner, according to the head of the state's Department of Public Health.

IDPH Director Gerd Clabaugh said Friday that Klein has accepted the position after having served as interim state medical examiner since Dr. Julia Goodin resigned in January to pursue a career opportunity with the Tennessee Department of Public Health.

'Dr. Klein has been involved with many death investigations, forensic autopsies and expert testimonies since joining the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in 2000,” Clabaugh said in a statement. 'This in-depth knowledge and experience will provide for a seamless transition into this new position.”

Klein graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He subsequently attended the University of Vermont's College of Medicine, where he received an M.D. degree in 1993.

Klein completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Mass., where he continued his residency training in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology. He completed his sub-specialty training in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Medical Investigator at the University of New Mexico.

Upon completion, Klein moved to Iowa to join the state medical examiner's office. He has academic appointments with Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Iowa's College of Medicine.

'A big draw for me to the State ME office here in Iowa is the opportunity to be a part of a very talented group of people who are genuinely dedicated to high quality death investigation, providing support and services with our County Medical Examiner partners, and making sure we are providing critical information to law enforcement agencies and attorneys,” Klein said.