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An Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine

A forensic pathologist in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez has given numerous professional presentations on a diverse range of pathology topics. After years of experience working in the forensic pathology field in Chicago and Austin, Danielo Perez has begun studying traditional Chinese medicine.

A holistic approach to medical care, traditional Chinese medicine draws on thousands of years of treatment for patients with a mind-body approach. Its roots lie in Taoist philosophy and consequently it looks at principles such as energy and balance. It has a broader perspective than western medicine, which often focuses on individual pieces of the body.

In its essence, Chinese medicine focuses on Qi, roughly translated as life force or energy. Rather than looking at bacteria or viruses as the cause of illness, this eastern approach sees mind and body wellness arising from Qi flowing smoothly in perfect balance, and illness resulting from disharmony due to an excess or insufficiency in Qi.

In order to address imbalances in Qi, Chinese medicine encompasses a diverse range of approaches, including acupuncture, tai chi, meditation, and herbs. It may also look at lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise.

Forensic Science Incorporates Many Specialties

Forensic pathologist Danielo Perez has extensive experience in performing autopsies for unnatural, unexplained, or unattended deaths in Austin, Texas, and surrounding counties. Before moving to Austin, Danielo Perez was an assistant medical examiner in Chicago. 

Forensic pathology is just one of many career paths you can choose when you study forensic science. Forensic science is grounded in the fundamental concepts of other natural sciences.

When analyzing evidence, forensic scientists draw from physics, chemistry, biology, botany and many other specialties. Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice system that helps prove the existence of a crime, determine the perpetrator of a crime, and make connections to the crime.

To thoroughly analyze evidence and the multiple components of a crime scene, many specialists function as a multi-disciplinary team. Some of those specialists include:

- Forensic pathologists, who study the body and perform an autopsy to determine a cause of death. They also might visit the scene of death to gather relevant information.

- Forensic toxicologists, who study the adverse effects of drugs and chemicals on the biological systems. After determining if harmful substances were present, toxicologists can conclude if those substances contributed to the death.

- Forensic odontologists, who use dental records to identify human remains.

- Forensic psychiatrists and behavioral science professionals, who help to determine if a person accused of a crime is fit to stand trial. These professionals also might offer testimony and assess the ways mental illness contributed to criminal activity. 

Other specialists who contribute to the field of forensic science include botanists, engineers, DNA analysts, anthropologists, optometrists, archeologists, entomologists, and geologists.

The January 2019 Issue of The Pathologist

A medical examiner and forensic pathologist in the greater Austin, Texas, area, Danielo Perez has worked for multiple clinical organizations, including the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office in Chicago, Illinois. To supplement his professional activities, Danielo Perez is a member of several industry associations, including the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
 
Comprised of more than 100,000 pathologists and medical laboratory personnel, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) spearheads professional certification operations through the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP also educates and informs pathologists through its official society partnership with the publication The Pathologist.

The January 2019 issue of The Pathologist focuses on cultural diversity in the field of pathology. Key articles in this issue include Valerie Fitzhugh’s story as a black woman in pathology, as well as Angelina Knott’s, Robin Suggs’, and Timothy Craig Allen’s solutions to human resources pipeline problems that have led to a culturally homogenous pathology workforce. The issue also includes an interview with Royal College of Pathologists diagnostic digital pathology lead, Darren Treanor.

Danielo Perez’s Work and Interests

Board-certified forensic pathologist Danielo Perez was educated at Columbia University, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the State University of New York at Downstate College of Medicine. He spent time as an assistant medical examiner with the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office before going on to a career in forensic pathology, performing autopsies and working to determine the cause of a death. One of the most meaningful aspects of Danielo Perez’s work is consulting privately with families who are seeking closure for a loved one’s death.

During his residency at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Mr. Perez participated in interdepartmental conferences on pediatric, colorectal, and head and neck tumors. Over the course of his career he also has presented work on hydrogen sulfide suicides, drowning, alcoholism, and the death of literary figure Edgar Allan Poe. A paper he wrote on examining gunshot wounds was published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. He is a current member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, the American Academy of Forensic Scientists, and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Mr. Perez has studied Eastern philosophy, meditation, and martial arts - including tai chi and bagua - for many years and taught classes in New York before relocating to Texas. He also enjoys calligraphy and writing, and considers Edgar Allan Poe an influence.

The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Danielo Perez, an Austin resident and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, enjoys reading in his free time. At his home in Austin, Danielo Perez often reads the classic works of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe.

The circumstances of Edgar Allan Poe's demise remain shrouded in mystery nearly two hundred years after his death. He was found delirious in a gutter in October 1849, and he never recovered sufficient consciousness to explain how he ended up in soiled clothing on a Baltimore street.

Common theories include a beating, an illness, and a poisoning, though these have been discredited due to contrary evidence. While alcohol is often thought to have played a role, possibly as the result of a relapse into alcoholism, modern science has indicated that Poe remained sober in the years leading to his death. 

The attending physician recorded phrenitis (an inflammation of the brain) as the cause of Poe's death, which suggests that encephalitis or meningitis was involved. A more recent theory suggests, however, that Poe's death could have been the result of a brain tumor. 

When moving Poe’s decayed body three decades later, one worker reported a small mass inside Poe's skull that could have been a calcified tumor. With new theories emerging even as old ones are disproved by modern medicine, Poe's death is likely to remain one of literature's great mysteries.