Cook County medical examiner appointed to national panel

Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, Cook County's chief medical examiner, has been appointment to the board of directors of the National Association of Medical Examiners.

County leaders said the appointment is a recognition of Arunkumar's leadership at the medical examiner's office, where she's played an instrumental role in implementing new policies and procedures and shaping the culture of the office while upgrading operations and technology. The office received full accreditation from NAME in 2016.

In 2017, Arunkumar was recognized with an achievement award from the National Association of Counties for an online portal that provides up-to-date information about Cook County's deaths, including those caused by gun violence and opioids. She also was recognized in 2017 by Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network for her dedication and commitment to offering grieving families the opportunity to donate organs on behalf of deceased loved ones.

She began working in Cook County in 2003 as a fellow pathologist and was named chief medical examiner in 2016.