CURRICULUM VITAE
EMPLOYMENT ADDRESS:
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office
11001 Cedar Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Professional e-mail: jfelo@cuyahogacounty.us
Personal e-mail: jfelo@hotmail.com
Phone number: (216) 698-5491
FAX number: (216) 698-6649
PERSONAL DATA:
Born: February 12, 1966
Los Gatos, California
Community Service:
Life Member, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Organization
Member and Usher, St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Parish, Highland Heights, Ohio
Member, Irish American Club – East Side
EDUCATION:
1984 to 1988 St. Lawrence University
Canton, New York
Class rank: 17 / 575
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude
1988 to 1992 The University of Health Sciences,
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas City, Missouri
Class rank: 5 / 105
Doctor of Osteopathy, Summa Cum Laude
BOARD CERTIFICATION:
November 19, 1997 Diplomate, The American Board of Pathology
Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology
September 15, 1998 Diplomate, The American Board of Pathology
Forensic Pathology
MEDICAL LICENSES:
Issued: September 12, 1997 State of Ohio, 34-00-6746
Expires January 1, 2021
State of Michigan, 5101025316
Expires November 22,2022
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING:
1992 to 1993 Intern, Johnson City Family Practice
(Osteopathic Internship)
Wilson Memorial Hospital
Johnson City, New York
1993 to 1997 Resident, Division of Laboratory Medicine
(Anatomic and Clinical Pathology)
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio
1997 to 1998 Fellow, Forensic Pathology
Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office
Cleveland, Ohio
MEDICOLEGAL EXPERIENCE:
As of June 26, 2020 Total Autopsies Performed: 4085
Total Court Testimonies: 196
Total Depositions: 32
MEDICAL EMPLOYMENT:
July 1, 1998 – May 31, 2006 Deputy Coroner and Forensic Pathologist
Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office
June 1, 2006 – July 31, 2007 Chief Deputy Coroner and Forensic Pathologist
Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office
August 1, 2007 – May 31, 2011 Deputy Coroner and Forensic Pathologist
Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office
June 1, 2011 – February 7, 2016 Deputy Medical Examiner and Forensic Pathologist
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office
February 8, 2016 – Present Chief Deputy Medical Examiner and Forensic Pathologist
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:
April 5, 2006 to May 31, 2006 Acting Chief Deputy Coroner of Cuyahoga County
June 1, 2006 to July 31, 2007 Chief Deputy Coroner of Cuyahoga County
July 1, 2006 to Present Program Director of Forensic Pathology Fellowship,
Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office
February 8, 2016 to Present Chief Deputy Medical Examiner of Cuyahoga County
AWARDS AND HONORS:
1984 to 1988 Dean’s List, St. Lawrence Faculty Scholar
1986 Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
1988 Phi Beta Kappa
1989 Sigma Sigma Phi, National Osteopathic Honor Society
1990 Psi Sigma Alpha, National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society
2019 Jewish Sacred Society Professionalism and Compassion Recognition
PRESENTATIONS:
Human Toxoplasmosis
- Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, May 1994.
- Microbiology Continuing Education Series, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, November 1994.
Fluids and Electrolytes
- W. King School of Medical Technology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, July 1994.
Maternal and Neonatal Screens
- W. King School of Medical Technology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, February 1995.
Postmortem Forensic Toxicology
- Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, April 1995.
- Immunopathology Continuing Education Series, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, May 1995.
Non-Neoplastic Salivary Gland Pathology
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, December 1995.
The Forensic Aspects of Alcohol
- Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, February 1996.
- Immunopathology Continuing Education Series, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, April 1996.
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii From Specimens Submitted for Viral Culture: IFA Confirmation
- Twelfth Annual Clinical Virology Symposium, Clearwater, FL, April 1996.
Male Genitourinary Pathology
- Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, January 1997-2019.
Gastrointestinal Pathology
- Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, January 1997-2019.
Forensic Pathology Photographic Review
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, March 1999-2001, 2008-2009, 2011-2012.
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, May 2002.
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, April 2004, 2005, and 2007.
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, April 2005, 2006, and 2009-2010.
- Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, May 2007 and March 2009.
Forensic Pathology and the Forensic Pathologist
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, October 1999.
- Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, June 2003.
- Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, February 2004.
- Forensic Science (Chemistry 102) Course, The College of Wooster, April 2007.
Introduction to the Forensic Sciences
- Twinsburg High School, November 1999.
- Romance Writers of America, September 2003.
Non-Accidental Childhood Injuries
- Pediatric Grand Rounds, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, February 2000.
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, April 2000.
Non-Accidental and Air Bag Associated Childhood Injuries
- Ohio State Coroners Association, May 2000.
Air Bag Associated Injuries in the Pediatric Population
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN, September 2000.
Forensic Pathology as a Career
- Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, June 2000.
- Broadview Heights Kiwanis Club, January 2004.
- Peter Chanel High School, March 2009.
- Cleveland Clinic Pathology Residency, February 2019.
A Retrospective Comparison of Skeletal Injuries in Infants and Children Utilizing Two Methods of Total Body Radiographs with Correlation of Autopsy Findings
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Conference, Richmond, VA, October 2001.
Embolized Crospovidone in the Lungs of an Intravenous Drug Abuser
- Cleveland Society of Pathologists, February 2002.
Identification of Crospovidone in Tissues of Intravenous Drug Abusers
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Conference, Shreveport, LA, September 2002.
Suicide in Cancer Patients: A Five Year Retrospective Review<
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Conference, Shreveport, LA, September 2002.
The Autopsy, Forensic Sciences: How They Impact Your World
- Case Western Reserve University, January 2004-2007.
Time of Death and Postmortem Changes
- University Hospitals of Cleveland Department of Pathology, April 2004 and 2007.
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Pathology, May 2007 and October 2010.
- CCMEO Medicolegal Death Investigation Course, March 2012.
- Cleveland EMS, June 2018.
Drug Prevalence in Drowning Deaths in Cuyahoga County, Ohio: A Ten Year Retrospective Study
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, September 2004.
Sudden Death Due to Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothoraces in a Marijuana User
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences 57th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 2005.
Sharp Force Injuries
- The Ohio State Coroners Association 60th Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, May 2005.
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, March 2006 and February 2019.
- Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, May 2007 and March 2009.
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, March 2015.
Fatal Hemoperitoneum: An Unusual Complication of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, October 2005.
- University of Michigan’s Advances in Forensic Medicine & Pathology, May 2019.
Forensic Odontology: Pediatric Identification
- Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office Forensic Odontology Training Seminars, March 2006.
Reporting Scene Data to the Pathologist; SUIDI Top 25 Explained
- The Ohio State Coroners Association 62nd Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, May 2007.
- Ohio Child Fatality Review Training, Columbus, OH, September 2007.
- Infant Death Investigation Training, Columbus, OH, June 2011.
Infant Death Certification
- Ohio Child Fatality Review Training, Columbus, OH, September 2007.
Forensic Pathologist as an Expert Witness
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, April 1, 2009.
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, February 2010, 2019, and 2020.
Forensic Pathology and Death Investigation
- North Coast Polytechnic Institute, June 17, 2009.
- Northeast Ohio Public Safety Conference, March 2013.
- Cleveland EMS, June 2018.
Que Sera, Sera? Survivability of Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Involving Un-Helmeted Cyclists
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 2009.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
- Euclid Hospital Presents The Coroner’s Series, Euclid, OH, September 8, 2009.
- University Hospitals of Cleveland Department of Pathology, May 2011 and March 2013.
- Infant Death Investigation Training, Columbus, OH 2011.
Blunt Force Injuries
- Euclid Hospital Presents The Coroner’s Series, Euclid, OH, September 14, 2010.
- Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, October 2010.
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, February 2019.
Homicidal Commotio Cordis in a Tissue Donor Victim
- National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH, October 2010.
Forensic Pathology in the Hospital Setting
- Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, February 2011.
- Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, March 2014.
Forensic Radiology: Applications in the Evaluation of Injury and Death
- Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists, April 2012.
- Ohio State Coroner’s Association, Northeast Regional Meeting, November 2012.
- Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, March 2013.
Wounds and Injuries
- CCMEO Medicolegal Death Investigation Course, November 2012.
Fatal Milk-Induced Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (Heiner Syndrome) in an Infant
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences 66th Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, February 2014.
Deaths due to Asphyxia
- Southwest General Hospital EMS, November 2016
- University of Michigan’s Advances in Forensic Medicine & Pathology, May 2019.
Fentanyl Analogs in Postmortem Examinations
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences 70th Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, February 2018.
The Opioid Crisis: The Cleveland Experience
- University of Michigan’s Advances in Forensic Medicine & Pathology, May 2019.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
National Association of Medical Examiners
– Fellow
– Best Resident Subcommittee, 2005 to 2009
– Member, Board of Directors, 2011 to 2017
– Forensic Pathology Training Subcommittee, 2016 to present
National Association of Medical Examiners Foundation
– Member
– Board of Trustees, 2014 to present
– Chair, Research Committee, 2015 to present
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
– Fellow, Pathology/Biology Section
St. Lawrence University Alumni Association
PUBLICATIONS:
Merrick TC, Felo JA, Jenkins AJ. Tissue distribution of olanzapine in a postmortem case.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2001;22(3):270-274.
Ganesan S, Felo J, Saldana M, Kalasinsky VF, Lewin-Smith MR, Tomashefski JF Jr. Embolized crospovidone (poly[N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone]) in the lungs of intravenous drug users. Mod Pathol. 2003;16(4):286-92.
Tomashefski JF, Felo JA. The pulmonary pathology of illicit drug and substance abuse.
Curr Diag Pathol 2004;10(5):413-426.
Gorniak JM, Jenkins AJ, Felo JA, Balraj EK. Drug prevalence in drowning deaths in Cuyahoga county, Ohio: a ten-year retrospective study. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005;26(3):240-243.
Felo JA. Book Review: Essential Forensic Neuropathology by Juan C. Troncoso. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010;34(5):755.
Naso-Kaspar CK, Herndon GW, Wyman JF, Felo JA, Lavins ES, Gilson TP. ‘Lingering’ Opiate Deaths? Concentration of Opiates in Medulla and Femoral Blood. J Anal Toxicol. 2013;37(8):507-11.
Maskovyak A and Felo J. Sudden death due to asphyxia by primary tracheal small cell carcinoma. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2014 4(4):558-562.
Maskovyak A, Felo J, Kohler L. Prevalence of drugs and alcohol identified in fatal work-related injuries: a two office experience. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2015 5(1): 98-104.
Wiens AL, Felo JA. Dissecting thoracic aortic hematoma masquerading as blunt force injury of the neck. J Forensic Sci. 2015 60(4): 1093-1094.
Maskovyak A and Felo J. Sudden death due to spontaneous small bowel perforation within an incarcerated umbilical hernia. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2016 6(2): 122-129.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:
1989 to 1990 Osteopathic Manipulation Technique Laboratory Assistant,
The University of Health Sciences
1994 to 1997 Lecturer, John Weaver King School of Medical Technology,
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
1995 to 1996 Deputy Inspector, College of American Pathologists
1996 to Present Basic Science Lecturer, Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
1999 to 2008 Pulmonary Pathology Lecturer, Case Western Reserve University
School of Medicine
- to Present Visiting Pathology Lecturer, MetroHealth Medical Center Department of Pathology
1999 Bioengineering Lecturer, Case Western Reserve University
- Visiting Pathology Lecturer, Cleveland Clinic Department of Pediatrics
2002 to 2010 Instructor, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2010 to 2015 Clinical Instructor of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2015 to Present Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2006 to 2015 Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology, Ohio University of Osteopathic Medicine
2016 to Present Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Forensic Pathology, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
2006 Ohio State Representative, National Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation Academy
2007 to Present Visiting Pathology Lecturer, Cleveland Clinic Department of Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology
2007 Visiting Pathology Lecturer, The College of Wooster Department of Chemistry
2009 to Present Coordinator, Euclid Hospital’s Medical Examiner’s Educational Series
2011 Visiting Pathology Lecturer, Cleveland Clinic Department
of Infectious Disease
2020 Clinical Education Site Coordinator, West Virginia University
Pathologist Assistant Program