Karl E. Williams

Karl E. Williams MD, MPH graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

He completed his residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Allegheny General and Shadyside Hospitals, becoming Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

Dr. Williams was a staff pathologist at the Allegheny County Coroner’s Office and became Board Certified in Forensic Pathology. 

For twenty years he was the director of laboratories at Ellwood City Hospital and served as president of the medical staff.

Dr. Williams performed autopsies for several of the elected lay coroners of surrounding counties over this same period of time.

He has a master’s degree in Occupational and Environmental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, specializing in issues relating to Cadmium toxicity. 

His interest in forensic DNA dates to his involvement with the crash of USAIR Flight 427 outside of Pittsburgh in 1994 where he was responsible for setting up and managing the temporary morgue used in the identification of the victims.

This incident was the first time DNA was used by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in a civilian mass disaster. 

Since January of 2007 he has been the appointed chief medical examiner of Allegheny County where his current responsibilities include managing the crime laboratories of Allegheny County, including its forensic DNA section.