Jan Garavaglia, probably best known for her feature role in the hit Discovery Health show, “Dr. G: Medical Examiner,” will speak at 6:30 p.m. in the Cape Florida Ballroom (room 316) of the Student Union. Her presentation is free and open to the public.
Garavaglia has been a forensic pathologist for more than 23 years. She has testified in several high-profile court cases. Garavaglia also serves as a clinical associate professor for the Florida State University College of Medicine.
The medical examiner will speak about her educational and career journey as part of UCF’s First Generation Speaker Series. The series presents inspirational leaders and scholars who have excelled in their academic and professional fields while also engaging with and giving back to their community. Speakers discuss their career paths, scholarly endeavors, personal philosophies and philanthropic endeavors.
Though the speakers will inspire and provide insight to all UCF community members, the series was developed to create role models and mentors for first-generation college students – those who are on track to be the first in their families to earn bachelor’s degrees.
MASS’ First Generation Program and PRIME STEM Project Student Support Services developed the speaker series. Sponsors of this month’s talk include the UCF Parent and Family Fund, Student Development and Enrollment Services, Career Services, the McNair Scholars Program, RAMP, the Office of Undergraduate Research, EXCEL, L.E.A.R.N and Pre-Med AMSA.
A graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine, Garavaglia was a medical examiner at the Bexar County Forensic Science Center in San Antonio for 10 years before she moved to Florida. During her tenure, she served as a clinical assistant professor for the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She also has worked as a medical examiner in Jacksonville and the metropolitan Atlanta area.