Academic Credentials
  • M.D., Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 1992
  • M.S., Ceramic Science, Alfred University, 1982
  • B.A., Chemistry, Cornell University, 1979
Licenses & Certifications
  • Board Certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology
  • Board Certified in Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology
  • Board Certified in Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology
  • State Medical License (TX)
Additional Education & Training
  • Traffic Accident Reconstruction I & II, 2007
    • Northwestern University Traffic Institute, Evanston, IL
  • Investigation and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents
    • Texas Forensic Associates, Texas City, TX, 2016
  • Osler Comprehensive Pathology Review Course, 2016, 2018, 2022
    • 70 hours AMA Category 1 Credits
  • Blood Stain Pattern Analysis: Investigating Violent Crimes
    • Basic Course, Texas Forensic Associates, Baton Rouge, LA, 2016
  • American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) Annual Meeting, 2021
  • 74th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Conference, 2022
  • The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Annual Pathology Conference, 2022
  • Military, Medical, and Engineering Experience
  • Forensic Consultant
  • Colonel, Unites States Army – retired December 2017
  • Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) 63rd RSC, Colonel, United States Army Reserve, 2015-2017
  • Command Surgeon 79th Sustainment Support Command (SSC), Colonel, United States Army Reserve, January 2014-September 2015
  • Command Surgeon 80th Training Command (TASS), Colonel, United States Army Reserve, August 2010-Decemeber 2013
  • Commander, 4th Brigade (HS) 100th Division, Medical Director, 4th Brigade (2008-August 2010), Colonel, United States Army Reserve, 2009-2010
  • Physician, United States Army Reserve, 5th Brigade Medical Director/Medical Review Officer (MRO), 95th Division (IT), Colonel, United States Army Reserve, 2006-2008
  • Physician, 5501st Army Hospital United States Army Reserves, San Antonio, Texas, Rank of Lieutenant Colonel through Colonel, United States Army Reserve, 2001-2006
  • Active Duty Physician, Pathologist (61U) Rank of Captain through Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, 1992-2001
  • Lieutenant, Nuclear Submarine Force-Unrestricted Line Officer (1980-1986) USS Henry L. Stimson SSBN 655 Blue Crew
  • Rank of Ensign through Lieutenant - Gold Dolphins Qualified
  • United States Navy Division Officer
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Reactor Plant Controls
    • Damage Control Assistant
    • Officer of the Deck
    • Engineering Duty Officer
    • Engineering Officer of the Watch
    • Engineering Duty Office
    • Diving Officer
  • Clinical Experience — Patient Care
  • Family Practice Physician, Hill Country Medical Center, Boerne, Texas, 1995-1999
  • Emergency Room Physician, Medina Community Hospital- Hondo, TX and Frio Hospital, Pearsall, Texas, Gould Emergency Room Physician Group, 1995-1996
  • Family Practice/Emergency Room Physician, Alamo City Medical Group/Nix Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, 1993-2002
  • Emergency Room Physician, Alice Physicians & Surgeons Hospital, Alice, Texas, 1993-1996
  • Clinical Experience — Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology
  • United States Army Reserve Medical Corp, 2001-2017
  • Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Staff, Anatomic/Clinical Pathologist - Active Duty, Brooke Army Medical Center - Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas
    • Forensic Consultant, 2002-present
    • Clinical Professor, School of Medicine Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 2009-2021
    • Chief Medical Examiner, Lubbock County, Director of the Medical Examiner's Office, Lubbock, Texas, 2009-present (Anatomic, Clinical, Pathology and Pathology practice).
    • Medical Director, Medical Microbiology, Brook Army Medical Center, 1997-2001
    • Medical Director, Blood Bank Transfusion, Brooke Army Medical Center, 1998-2000
    • Surgical and Autopsy Staff Pathologist, Brooke Army Medical Center, 1997-2001
    • Chief/Medical Director, Flow Cytometry, Brook Army Medical Center, 1997-1998
Academic Appointments
  • Clinical Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 2009-2021
  • Assistant Professor of Pathology, School of Medicine Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 2002-2006
Professional Honors
  • M.D. Anderson Public Service Professor at the Texas Tech School of Law, Spring Semester, 2017
  • Forensic Pathology Fellowship, Bexar County Forensic Science Center and Office of the Medical Examiner San Antonio, Texas, 2001-2002
  • Medical Microbiology Subspecialty Training, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1997-1999
  • Anatomic/Clinical Pathology Residency, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1993-1997
  • Transitional Medicine Internship, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., 1992-1993
  • United States Navy Nuclear Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, 1983
  • United States Navy/Knolls Nuclear Reactor Prototype, Weston Milton, New York, 1983
  • United States Navy Nuclear Reactor Theory/Power School, Orlando, Florida, 1982-1983
  • Honors and Awards
  • Attorney General of New Mexico Letter of Appreciation, 2015
  • Letter of Appreciation - District Attorney, Donley County, Texas, 2014
  • United States Army Surgeon General's "A" Proficiency Designator, Excellence in Army Medicine, 2014
  • Lubbock Criminal District Attorney Justice Award (2010)
  • State Bar of Texas Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Distinguished Service of the Faculty of the 34th Annual Advanced Criminal Law Course, 2008
  • Army Forces Component Achievement Medal, 2007
  • Governor's Appointment of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, 2006, 2008
  • The State of Texas House of Representatives Appreciation Award for Support of Rural Law Enforcement, 2005
  • Meritorious Service Medal United States Army (oak leaf cluster), 2001, 2010, 2013
  • Army Achievement Award United States Army, 2000, 2013
  • Achievement Certificate Award for Outstanding Instruction in the Management of the Burn and Orthopedic Trauma Seminar United States Army, 1999
  • Achievement Certificate Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Brooke Army Medical Center Antibiogram Untied States Army, 1998
Professional Affiliations
  • Member, Society of Automotive Engineers, 2007-present
  • Associate Member, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 2008-present
  • Clinical Adjunct Professor, USAF School of Aerospace, Medicine, 2008-2011
  • Fellow, National Association of Medical Examiners, (NAME), 2002-present
  • Fellow and Diplomat of the American College of Pathologists (FCAP), 1997-present
  • Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners, 1993-present
  • Fellow American Society of Clinical Pathologist (FASCP), 2013-present
  • Committees
  • Association for Advancement of Automotive Medicine
    • Member, 2007
    • Board of Directors Appointment, 2014-2020
    • Scientific Program Committee, 2007-2017
    Covenant Medical Center Trauma Peer Review - Morbidity and Mortality Team, 2012-2018
  • Lubbock County Child Fatality Review Team, 2002-2006/ 2009-2018
  • Member, Texas Forensic Science Commission, 2006-2009
  • Texas Tech School of Medicine
    • Burn and Trauma Morbidity and Mortality Team, 2009-2018
    • Program Director for Forensic Pathology Fellowship, 2005-2006
    Texas Panhandle MHMR Review Committee, 2004-2006
  • Program Director for Annual Medicolegal Death Investigation Forensic Science Seminar, 2003-2006 Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office (jointly sponsored)
  • Texas Panhandle Child Fatality Review Team, 2002-2006
  • Texas Tech Forensic Science Institute
    • Planning Committee, 2002-2006
    Brooke Army Medical Center
    • Transfusion Practice Committee, 1999-2001
    • Clinical Pathology Performance Improvement Program Committee, 1999-2001
    • Performance Improvement Program Surgical Pathology, 1997-2001
    • ENT Tumor Board Committee, 1997-2001
    • Infection Control Committee, 1997-2001

Dr. Natarajan is Board Certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic, Clinical and Forensic Pathology. He has been a Chief Medical Examiner for nearly 15 years with involvement in more than 10,000 forensic autopsies that included determining natural and non-natural causes of death and manners of death. 

He retired from the position of Lubbock County Director/Chief Medical Examiner in August of 2018.

Dr. Natarajan has practiced forensic pathology with an emphasis on injury causation and biomechanics in both vehicular and non-vehicular traumatic events, as well as a variety of criminal matters. He has testified in over 300 cases as an expert in criminal and civil matters in district and federal courts and for the Department of Justice. Dr. Natarajan's extensive experience includes numerous investigations involving vehicular trauma, falls from height, occupational hazards, gunshot wounds, toxicology, burns, drowning, asphyxiation, electrocution, suicide-related events, blunt force trauma, sharp force injuries, abuse cases, and in-custody incidents.

Dr. Natarajan is a Colonel in the U. S. Army (Retired). He has completed tenures as the 4th Brigade Commander and Combat Medic Training Medical Director (San Antonio, Texas), the 80th Training (TASS) Command Surgeon (Richmond, Virginia), and as the Command Surgeon for the 79th SSC (Sustainment Support Command) located in Los Alamitos, California. He was recently awarded the Surgeon General's "A" Proficiency Designator, which is the highest recognition for professional excellence in Army Medicine. He has served as the Medical Director of various departments within the military and as Clinical Adjunct Professor for the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine.

He was appointed to the Texas Forensic Science Commission in 2006 by Governor Rick Perry and served in that capacity completing a three year tenure assignment. Dr. Natarajan is a Member or Fellow of a number of prominent national and international organizations; he has nationally lectured, published and was formerly on the Scientific Editorial Panel and the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. He has served as the Medical Director for the Lubbock County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E.) Program. He returned as the Director and Chief Medical Examiner for Lubbock County, Texas, in February of 2009. Dr. Natarajan held an appointment as Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology, Texas Tech School of Medicine through September 2021. He was a guest lecturer for the Nurse Practitioner Program at Lubbock Christian University (LCU), where he provided lectures on Accidental and Non-Accidental Pediatric Trauma for the course Advanced Practice Nursing and Forensics: Caring for High Risk Population. Dr. Natarajan is a principal consultant in the biomechanics practice at Exponent.