Cook County reappoints medical examiner for third term

The Cook County Board has unanimously approved the reappointment of Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ponni Arunkumar to a third five-year term to lead the medical examiner’s office through 2031.

“Dr. Arunkumar has effectively led the Medical Examiner’s Office through immense challenges and unprecedented caseloads since 2016,” County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in an announcement of the reappointment. “I am confident that she is best positioned to advance this critical work with a focus on excellence and innovation as well as compassion for the families whose loved ones fall under her care.”

Arunkumar established the office’s grief counselor program to ensure that loved ones of decedents have compassionate guidance and support in making final arrangements for decedents. She also launched an annual Missing Persons Day event to bring law enforcement, missing persons organizations and other resources under one roof to help families locate their missing loved ones.

Her tenure in the office began in 2003, when she was hired as a fellow pathologist. She was appointed deputy chief medical examiner in 2012 and chief medical examiner in 2016.