LA County Appoints First Black Chief Medical Examiner

Dr. Odey Ukpo aims to strengthen community ties and regain national accreditation for the understaffed department.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Since becoming Los Angeles County's first Black chief medical examiner in 2023, Dr. Odey Ukpo has led an understaffed department in its effort to regain national accreditation while focusing on strengthening the agency's ties to the community. One of his goals is to make information about heat-related deaths, drug-related deaths and deaths among the unhoused readily available to the public.

Why it matters

Ukpo's appointment as the first Black chief medical examiner in LA County is a significant milestone. By strengthening community ties and making data more accessible, he aims to empower the public with knowledge that could help save lives, especially among vulnerable populations.

The details

Ukpo first joined the medical examiner's office as a senior deputy in 2014 and quickly stood out for his expertise with new forensic techniques like CT scans. He was promoted to head examiner in March 2023, a role he did not expect. Ukpo oversees a department of 260 staff, a $50 million budget, and handles over 13,000 cases per year.

  • Ukpo became LA County's first Black chief medical examiner in 2023.
  • Ukpo was officially appointed to the role by the LA County Board of Supervisors in March 2023.

The players

Dr. Odey Ukpo

The first Black chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County, appointed in 2023.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

The governing body that officially appointed Dr. Ukpo as head medical examiner in March 2023.

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What they’re saying

“I think that we need to grow our voice and concerns about deaths that have happened in the community versus others speaking for us through our data.”

— Dr. Odey Ukpo, Chief Medical Examiner, Los Angeles County (nbclosangeles.com)

“I'm saying this person is part of this community. What are the patterns that we're seeing here that we can inform the public (about) that can predict this death?”

— Dr. Odey Ukpo, Chief Medical Examiner, Los Angeles County (nbclosangeles.com)

What’s next

Ukpo plans to continue strengthening the medical examiner's ties to the local community and make more data on heat-related deaths, drug overdoses, and deaths among the unhoused readily available to the public.

The takeaway

Dr. Ukpo's appointment as LA County's first Black chief medical examiner represents an important milestone, and his focus on empowering the community with data-driven insights could help save lives, especially among vulnerable populations.