State of Maryland

A Medical Photographer is the full performance level of work in the field of medical photography.  Employees in this classification work for the Maryland Post Mortem Examiners Commission within the Maryland Department of Health.  The work of this classification includes photographing human corpses at the morgue or at the scene of a homicide or accident, and developing pertinent films, slides and photomicrographs.   Employees in this classification also take fingerprints of the deceased and photographs of classical pathology.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level designated official.  Work is evaluated in terms of the timeliness and quality of work products and adherence to standard procedures.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Photographs, in black and white and color: human corpses for purposes of identification, autopsies, stab wounds, bullet wounds, and other injuries resulting from homicidal and accidental violence for admission as evidence in court cases;

Develops and processes film;

Takes fingerprints of the deceased;

Prepares and stains histological slides and makes photomicrographs;

Prepares color lantern slides;

Operates a simple x-ray machine and develops x-rays;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the techniques, equipment, materials and methods of medical photography and photomicrography;

Knowledge of the principles of operating a photographic laboratory;

Ability to photograph corpses in a central morgue or at the scene of an accident, homicide or disaster;

Ability to develop negatives;

Ability to print pictures;

Ability to process photographic material;

Ability to prepare histological slides;

Ability to take fingerprints;

Ability to maintain confidentiality of case information.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience as a photographer, one year of which must have been in medical photography and one year in photomicrography.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute formal coursework in basic and intermediate photography obtained at a college or university, commercial school or military school for one year of the required general experience.  Candidates may substitute completion of formal coursework in medical photography from an accredited college or university, commercial school or military school for each year of the specialized experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Photography, Cameraman, or Mass Communications Specialist classifications or Photography, Journalism, or Visual Information Equipment Operator specialty codes in the Photography field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B- Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.