Professor Emeritus of Forensic Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

Formerly chief medical examiner-coroner for the County of Los Angeles, Dr. Thomas Noguchi is best known for his investigation of such high-profile cases as the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the drug-related deaths of Marilyn Monroe and John Belushi, and the drowning of Natalie Wood—cases he reexamined in his 1985 book, "Coroner."

Currently, Dr. Noguchi serves the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center in multiple capacities—as chairman of the Combined Death Review Committee in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care, as a member of the volunteer professional staff in the Department of Pathology, Emergency and Surgery; and as a member of the volunteer staff in the Department of Laboratories and Pathology. He is also chairman of the Standards and Guideline Committee for the American Red Cross Tissue Service, chairman of the past presidents committee for the National Association of Medical Examiners, and vice-president of the World Association for Medical Law.

Born in Japan, Dr. Noguchi earned his medical degree from Nippon Medical School in 1951 before interning at Tokyo University Hospital. He then served a second internship at Orange County General Hospital and a series of residencies at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Barlow Sanatorium in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Department of the Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Dr. Noguchi has held academic appointments at several universities, including Loma Linda University, USC, University of California at Los Angeles and California State University. He has also been awarded honorary degrees by the University of Braz Cubas, Worcester State University and the USC School of Medicine.

In 1991, Dr. Noguchi was given The Outstanding Service Award by the National Association of Medical Examiners, and in 1999, His Imperial Highness, the Emperor of Japan, awarded him The Order of the Sacred Treasure for outstanding contribution to Japan in the area of forensic science.

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