Masarech, of Greene, assumed the position on October 1 following confirmation by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, replacing Dr. John Cruz, who retired at the end of September.

Masarech, a longtime family physician with UHS Primary Care in Greene, heads a staff of five deputy medical examiners. Deputies David Hochman, NP, of Afton and Brian Renfrow, PA, of Oxford, are joined by newly-appointed deputies Joseph Pisani, PA and Carrie Pisani, PA, of Oxford, and James Lentini, DPM, of Norwich. “With the addition of the new members, we can continue to assure a timely response to all death investigations anywhere in Chenango County,” said Masarech.

Masarech said the medical examiner’s office is responsible by law for investigating all cases of unexpected, unattended, sudden or suspicious deaths in the county. “We responded to just under 200 requests for service last year,” Masarech said. “With the increasing rates of opioidrelated

deaths in the county, we unfortunately do not expect this number to decrease,” he said.

A medical examiner will respond to the scene of a death day or night, Masarech reported. He said an investigation will be conducted, and a determination made as to whether further testing or autopsy are necessary. The medical examiner’s office will then coordinate with a funeral home of the family’s choice for transportation of the deceased, he explained.

“Chenango County was the first rural county in the state outside of New York City to switch from an elected coroner to an appointed medical examiner back in the 1970s,” Masarech said. He explained the difference between the two systems is that a coroner is not required to have any medical training or experience, while a medical examiner has substantial medical training as a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or other clinician. Masarech said the office’s current members are all practicing clinicians with extensive medical backgrounds and experience.

“The majority of rural counties in New York still use elected coroners,” said Masarech. “So Chenango County is fortunate to be able to offer its residents timely, comprehensive death investigation services at a relatively low cost to the taxpayers.”

- Submitted press release