Michael Truver never envisioned himself as an expert in forensic medicine. He was the first member of his family to go to college and worked in a grocery store from age 15 through graduate school. An affinity for chemistry led him to Sam Houston State University in Texas, where a research project piqued his interest in forensics. Master’s and Ph.D. programs followed, as did a career in forensic medicine that’s taken him across the world.
“I just kind of fell into it,” he said. “It’s not something that I ever thought would be my passion. But I enjoy it.”
Now, Dr. Michael Truver will impart that accumulated experience to others as the new director of the UF Forensic Medicine Distance Education Program. Truver previously worked as deputy director of the UF Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, where he helped oversee chemist workflows and review forensic data. He’ll bring that hands-on knowledge to the virtual classroom, along with a vision of expanding a program that trains the next generation of forensic medicine professionals.
“One of the big things is, we don’t have a course on forensic toxicology, which is my specialty,” he said. “I think forensic toxicology is very much needed when thinking about forensic medicine, and so it’s something that would benefit the program.”
DNA and trace analysis
Truver’s research at UF has previously focused on cannabinoids, synthetic opioids and novel psychoactive substances, which are new compounds like so-called “bath salts” that require ongoing research. After completing his Ph.D. at Sam Houston State in 2019, the native Texan was a visiting researcher for a year at a university in Sweden, where he developed methods for detecting and quantifying oxycodone.
Given that background, it is no surprise that Truver would teach a new course on forensic toxicology, which he hopes to launch by the spring of 2027. And he envisions it as just the first step in expanding UF’s online Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Forensic Medicine. He’s also reached out to experts in fields like DNA analysis, seized drugs and trace analysis, with the goal of recruiting them to develop and teach courses.
“I think it would provide a more well-rounded expansion of the program,” he said.
Those courses, he added, would probably debut in the summer or fall of 2027. Truver would also like to expand the in-person labs associated with the online master’s in Forensic Medicine. The UF program currently has four opportunities for in-person labs held in Gainesville, Fla.—forensic photography, bloodstain pattern analysis, artifacts of decomposition and crime scene investigation—and he’d like to see more added.
“We have students from all over the country, and some of them fly in to take the in-person labs because they want that hands-on experience,” Truver said.
Lit review and thesis research
As someone who was the first in his family to go to college and worked in a grocery store through graduate school, Truver understands the many demands faced by online students—who often have jobs, families, or other responsibilities to manage in addition to their coursework. Current students in UF’s Forensic Medicine online master’s program range from those just completing their undergraduate degrees, to those preparing for medical school, to nontraditional students seeking a higher education degree to advance in their chosen field.
“It’s a wide variety of students, and I have the knowledge of where they’re coming from and know that they have different jobs and responsibilities,” Truver said. “Forensics in general is very broad, and having different people interested in different aspects of it gives me the ability to keep learning.”
In addition to the forthcoming forensic toxicology course, Truver said he also plans to teach the literature review and thesis research courses within the Forensic Medicine online program. To prepare for that role, he joined faculty meetings with master’s students to better understand the questions they ask and the support they need. It’s all part of a new role for Truver—and a new chapter for the online master’s program in Forensic Medicine at UF.
“It’s a niche field, and there’s always the need to improve the education of the people in that field,” Truver said. “I want to take the program as far as it can go, and I’m very excited about expanding it.”
Accelerate your career with an online master’s degree in Forensic Medicine from UF
UF’s online Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Forensic Medicine is designed for professionals who are interested in accelerating their careers in forensic medicine, forensic pathology, and medicolegal death investigation. The program is entirely online, and allows students to gain valuable knowledge and skills without disrupting their careers. Students will learn the basic application of forensic medicine in death investigations, crime scene processing skills, professional report writing, the ability to provide expert witness testimony in the courtroom, and more. Apply today!