Jan Garavaglia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Garavaglia
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|---|---|
| Born |
Jan Carla Garavaglia
September 14, 1956 Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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| Other names | Dr. G |
| Occupation | Chief Medical Examiner |
| Years active | 1988–2015 |
| Spouse(s) | Kevin Kowaleski (1980–2006) Mark Wallace (2007–present) |
| Children | 2 |
Jan Carla Garavaglia (born September 14, 1957), also known as "Dr. G", is an American doctor. She is a pathologist, which means she studies diseases and how people die. She was the main medical examiner for Orange and Osceola counties in Orlando, Florida. She worked there from 2004 until she retired in 2015. Dr. G became well-known for her work on some important cases.
She also starred in a TV show called Dr. G: Medical Examiner. This show was on the Discovery Health channel from 2004 to 2012. You can still watch repeats of the show on Discovery Life and Justice Network. Dr. G has also appeared on many other TV shows. These include The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, and The Dr. Oz Show.
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Becoming a Medical Examiner
Jan Garavaglia was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She went to Lindbergh High School and finished in 1974. She then went to St. Louis University School of Medicine to become a doctor.
After medical school, she trained in internal medicine. She also studied anatomic and clinical pathology. This training helps doctors understand diseases and how they affect the body. She then did a special program in forensic pathology in Miami. Forensic pathology is the study of how people die, especially in unusual or suspicious cases.
Jan Garavaglia is certified in both general pathology and forensic pathology. This means she has passed special tests to show she is an expert in these fields.
Dr. G's Family Life
Jan Garavaglia got married for the first time in 1980. In 1988, she started her first job as a medical examiner in Jacksonville, Florida. Her first son was born that same year.
In 1991, her family moved to Georgia. She worked there as a medical examiner for two years. Then, in 1993, they moved to San Antonio, Texas. She worked as a medical examiner there for ten years. Her second son was born in 1994.
Dr. Garavaglia and her first husband divorced in 2006. In 2007, she married her second husband, Dr. Mark Wallace. She had met him when they were both in medical school. Dr. Wallace sometimes appeared on her TV show, Dr. G: Medical Examiner. He is an expert in infectious diseases. Today, Dr. Garavaglia and her husband live in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Dr. G's Career Highlights
A medical examiner is a doctor who investigates deaths. They perform autopsies to find out how and why someone died. This job is very important for understanding crimes and other mysterious deaths.
One of Dr. Garavaglia's first cases involved a funeral home. Many bodies were found there in very bad condition. She discovered that the funeral director had put several people in one casket. He had kept the money he was paid for each burial.
As a medical examiner in Texas, Dr. Garavaglia worked on the case of Tracie McBride. This case was also shown on her TV program, Dr. G.
In 2008, Dr. Garavaglia performed an autopsy on the remains of Caylee Anthony. This was a very well-known case. Dr. Garavaglia later shared her findings in court during the trial of Caylee's mother.
In 2008, Dr. Garavaglia wrote a book called How Not to Die. In this book, she shares lessons from her work. She teaches readers how to take care of their health. Her goal is to help people avoid dying too soon.
On May 18, 2012, Dr. Garavaglia gave a special speech. It was at the opening of the 2012 Science Olympiad National Tournament. This event was held at the University of Central Florida.
Dr. Garavaglia retired from her job as a medical examiner on May 28, 2015. She had worked in forensic pathology for over twenty years. She and her husband moved to his hometown in Washington state.
How Not to Die Book
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America’s Favorite Medical Examiner is a book written by Jan Garavaglia. It was released on October 14, 2008. The book is about how to live a safe and healthy life.
Dr. Garavaglia uses real cases from her 20 years as a medical examiner. She explains how certain lifestyle choices can lead to an early death. She also gives advice on how to be smart about your health. The Library Journal said the book was "surprisingly entertaining."
