In Memory

Joan Wood

Joan Wood

Joan Wood, M.D. passed away August 7, 2011 on Redington Beach. The following resolution was presented posthumously.

Resolution

WHEREAS, Joan E. Wood was born on July 17, 1944 in Ashtabula, Ohio and received her Bachelor of Arts

degree in 1966 from University of Florida and her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1970 from University of

Florida, and became board certified in Forensic Pathology in 1974; and,

WHEREAS, Dr. Joan E. Wood proudly served as the District Six Medical Examiner from 1982 until 2000 and as

the Executive Director of the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory from 1986 until 2000; and,

WHEREAS, Dr. Wood, before her appointment to the Commission, was a district medical examiner who was very

interested and active in Commission matters as manifested by the fact that she was the Commission’s

representative on (and served as chairman of) the Florida Violent Crime Council and the Organ and Tissue

Procurement Advisory Board, as well as participating in numerous community and statewide task forces, review

teams, and work groups dealing with forensic matters; and

WHEREAS, as a further indication of her enthusiasm for forensic medicine, Dr. Wood was a member of and

served an active role in numerous professional organizations such as the National Association of Medical

Examiners, the Florida Crime Laboratory Council, the National Forensic Science Technology Center, and the

American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors; and

WHEREAS, since Dr. Wood was first appointed to the Commission by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1994 and

served until September, 2000, she was elected as the Commission’s chairman every year, and during her six year

tenure she assertively and wisely oversaw the many very important and sometimes difficult issues that came

before the Commission ; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Wood’s professionalism, leadership, vast knowledge of the issues, and her lack of timidity in

taking on the tough issues facing the Commission earned her respect and admiration among families,

professionals, and legislators throughout Florida;

NOW THEREFORE let it be resolved that this Commission on behalf of Florida’s Medical Examiners and all of

the citizens of Florida whom she served so well, does hereby recognize and posthumously thank Dr. Joan E.

Wood for the dedication, service and valuable guidance she has offered to the Florida Medical Examiners System,

and for her many years of exemplary and dedicated public service to her community and to the field of forensic

pathology.

PASSED AND RECORDED, in the official minutes of the Medical Examiners Commission meeting on this

Wednesday, the 31st day of August, 2011, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.







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