Jacki DeChiara, Director of Operations Medical Examiner Office, Orange County Health Department

2 Years of Service in Medical Examiner Office, 15 total Years of Service in the county

Jacki DeChiara is Director of Operations at the Orange County Medical Examiner's (OCME) Office. Ms. DeChiara manages day-to-day OCME office operations, and in doing so supports the office in providing high level care to both decedents and the bereaved. Ms. DeChiara also directly impacts public health in her capacity as a liaison to the Orange County Sherriff's Drug Task Force. She provides the Task Force with real-time information, including scene investigation and autopsy findings, as well as statistics on finalized drug overdose cases. This sharing of information allows the Task Force to better address the ongoing opioid epidemic from a law enforcement perspective, as well as identify trends in mortality, both regionally and with respect to emerging novel substances of abuse. Ms. DeChiara shows true dedication to her work and to the people of Orange County.