Richard C. Harruff, MD, PhD

Diagnostic Physics

Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, UWSOM
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, UWSOM

Biography

Richard Harruff, MD, PhD is a forensic pathologist, certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology. He was Chief Medical Examiner at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office in Seattle, Washington from 2000 until his retirement in July 2023.

He received his MD and PhD (Chemistry) in 1976 from Indiana University (Bloomington and Indianapolis); postgraduate training included residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at University of Wisconsin (Madison), fellowship in Surgical Pathology at New York University (New York City), and fellowship in Forensic Pathology at University of Tennessee (Memphis).

He has served on the faculty of the medical schools at Emory University (Atlanta), University of Tennessee (Memphis), Indiana University (Indianapolis), and University of Washington (Seattle). He is a member of National Association of Medical Examiners and American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Prior to his role as Chief Medical Examiner, he worked as a forensic pathologist at the Shelby County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Memphis, the Marion County Coroner’s Office in Indianapolis, and was Associate Medical Examiner at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office from 1993 until his appointment as Chief in 2000.

Over the decades he has trained many medical students, residents, and fellows, authored many scientific papers, and lectured extensively to diverse audiences in the medical and legal professions.

 

Research Interests

Application of Postmortem CT Examinations to Medicolegal Death Investigation and Forensic Pathology

Education

1971-1976 MD – Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

1971-1976 PhD – Indiana University Department of Pathology, Bloomington, Indiana

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

1976-1980 Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin

1980-1981 Rotating Clinical Internship. United States Public Health Service Hospital, Staten Island, New York

1981-1982 Fellowship in Surgical Pathology. New York University Medical Center, New York, New York

1985-1986 Fellowship in Forensic Pathology. University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee