The College of American Pathologists (CAP) recognized the dedicated men and women of the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (OAFME), for the dignity, honor, respect, and professionalism, which they deliver each day in exercising their duties, at a special ceremony held on Sept. 30, 2007, at the College's annual meeting.

Capt. Craig T. Mallak, MD, FCAP, of the OAFME accepted the award on behalf of the entire team of committed individuals of the OAFME. "It is with extreme pride that the College bestows this award to the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner," said CAP President Jared N. Schwartz, MD, PhD, FCAP. "I recently had the opportunity to visit this facility and see first-hand the compassion with which these individuals discharge their duties and for their unwavering commitment to technological advances on behalf of the fallen men and women who have serviced our Nation."

Capt. Mallak, who leads the OAFME, was instrumental in adapting the innovative use of CT scan technology at the Dover, Del., facility to provide radiologic assisted autopsies. The OAFME is a component of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Every military or contractor casualty from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts is transported through the Armed Forces facility for a complete autopsy. The College of American Pathologists is a medical society that serves nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance.