Dr. G speaks to first generation students about forensic pathology

With a morgue full of bodies, the company is not all that talkative and the stench is rather overwhelming. Luckily, for Dr. Jan Garavaglia, M.D., a room of about 230 alive and breathing students attended her speech on her career as a forensic pathologist on Thursday night in the Student Union.

As part of the First Generation Speaker Series sponsored by UCF's Multicultural Academic Support Services, Garavaglia was invited to encourage, inspire and motivate students to pursue high quality education.

Garavaglia is the chief medical examiner for the District Nine Medical Examiner Office for Orange and Osceola Counties in Florida. She has been a forensic pathologist for more than 23 years and is certified in anatomic, clinical and forensic pathology.

Garavaglia is widely recognized for her television hit on Discovery Health, "Dr. G: Medical Examiner."

The majority of Garavaglia's speech was about the discovery of her passion for helping people and how she decided to enter the forensic field. Coming from a home where both her parents had never graduated with college degrees, Garavaglia is a first generation student.

"My father didn't graduate from high school," Garavaglia said. "And my mother valued friendship, loyalty, and enjoying life rather than education."

Garavaglia discovered her love for science and how intelligent she was in her chemistry and biology courses in high school. It was then that she decided to go to college and eventually medical school.

As popular as the Garavaglia's show is now, there was a time where it would not have been aired. She initially didn't want to do the show. Garavaglia believed that producers would only talk about the crime and she was more focused on the passion behind her work and the mystery behind how people die.

It took some reporter phone calls and convincing on her part to mold the show into her own outlet to explain stories and teach viewers the science behind the work in her morgue.

"If you don't let it be too mundane, it can be really fascinating," Garavaglia said. "You just have to be open to it."

With the success of her TV show, Garavaglia went on to write a book titled "How Not to Die." The book is filled with valuable lessons and advice on how to make reasonable health and life decisions.

A reception was given for Garavaglia before her speech in the Union where she spoke to a group of about 40 first generation students and she signed copies of her book.

"I was amazed at how Dr. G took the time to personalize her book to each of our students based on the conversation they had," said Jennifer Muscadin, an academic adviser with the PRIME STEM Project, who helped distribute books during the signing. "She was simply amazing."

First Generation Program, PRIME STEM Project, and Campus Medical Organization Scholars were thrilled with the books and the chance to have them signed by Garavaglia.

"I'm really excited to read this book," said Darah Flores, a public relations director for the Pre-Professional Medical Society on campus. "Reading a few pages already had me laughing and anticipating the advice to come."

Garavaglia's choice to follow her dreams and pursue a college education has led her to be successful in her profession.

"It's a demanding career," she said, "but I have never regretted it."

Garavaglia ended her speech with words of encouragement to those that wish to make a difference in the world and a light hearted caveat: to stay out of her morgue.