VCU news

Alphonse Poklis, Ph.D., director, Toxicology Laboratory, professor of pathology, VCU School of Medicine

Poklis was featured in October as one of the “20 Top Forensic Pathology Professors Online” by ForensicsColleges.com. The list includes “professors who have established their expertise in the field and who continue to advance it, all whilst educating the next generation of forensic pathologists, and shaping the future of the industry as a whole.”

The website noted that Poklis – unlike the majority of the forensic pathologist professors on its list – holds a Ph.D. rather than an M.D., and that he is well known for work in forensic toxicology and for his experience as an expert witness in a variety of criminal trials.  

Poklis said that in addition to the most rewarding part of his work – seeing former students succeed – his interest “has always been in the forensic and clinical aspects of drugs and poisons including murder by poison, fatal overdose, impaired driving from alcohol and/or drugs including marijuana and substance abuse.”