While many students use summer break to relax, travel, or work part-time jobs, senior forensic science major Kelsey Gallagher spent her summer immersed in one of the most intense focuses in her field of study. Thanks to an internship with the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Through the internship, Gallagher got hands-on experience in the field she hopes to join in the future. She worked with legal teams, law enforcement, and forensic pathologists while also shadowing autopsies and even going to observe a body removal.
“I worked a lot with the legal team,” Gallagher said. “I helped answer emails, communicated with district attorneys and law enforcement about active cases, and when I wasn’t doing that, I got to shadow autopsies with different doctors.”
Gallagher really embraced her internship and said, “I absolutely loved seeing the legal and medical aspects work hand in hand to ensure justice is held to the highest standard. I loved being able to play a role that helped others in the long run! It was extremely interesting to see how cases are handled through the eyes of the law and the practices of science.”
Gallagher, who is from Florida, found the internship on mass.gov, the official Massachusetts government site. She applied for several other positions around Massachusetts, and some in her home state, but landed the opportunity in Boston. Gallagher stayed on-campus during the summer housing in North Hall, was able to take advantage of this internship opportunity. Which not only gave her a chance to learn about the field but also confirmed her future career goals.
Gallagher said, “After graduation, I want to go to medical school and become a forensic pathologist. This internship helped me prepare for my future career in so many ways and being able to interact with the forensic pathologists there helped me learn what my future career will look like. Working with professionals such as doctors, law enforcement, and district attorneys helped me enhance my communication and interpersonal skills.”
Gallagher’s work during her summer internship came to an agreement with OCME to extend her contract for the next year. Currently, Gallagher is balancing her senior year with working at OCME and getting ready to apply to medical school after graduation and she recommends to her fellow students to apply for this internship if they are interested in public safety, criminal justice, law enforcement, or forensic science.
–Oct. 7, 2025–
