REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 16, 2025
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Affiliation Agreement with Loma Linda University School of Medicine for a Pathologist Assistant Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 25-09 with Loma Linda University School of Medicine for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Coroner Division to continue providing a Pathologist Assistant Program student rotation, extending the term by two years, for a new total agreement term of January 15, 2025, through January 14, 2028, with the option to extend the term by two additional one-year periods, or one additional two-year period.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost of surgical disposable protective wear utilized by an estimated 60 students, per year, will be reimbursed to the County by Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM) per the standard fee amount for protective wear included in the County’s Fee Ordinance, Section 16.0226(t)(9)(B), currently $49. This fee amount may be adjusted annually according to the County Fee Ordinance.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The affiliation Agreement provides for the safety, health, and social service needs of the county’s residents by supporting LLUSM’s students in the Pathologist Assistant Program (Program) and providing a clinical rotation at the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) Coroner Division Facility. LLUSM students enrolled in the Program observe and participate in the performance of autopsies under the direction of the Department’s Forensic Pathologists.
On January 14, 2025 (Item No. 58), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Agreement No. 25-09 with LLUSM for the Department’s Coroner Division to provide a Program student rotation, for the period of January 15, 2025 through January 14, 2026, with the option to extend the term by two additional one-year periods or one additional two-year period.
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 25-09 will exercise the option to extend the Agreement period by one two-year period, for a total agreement term of January 15, 2025 through January 14, 2028, and will add the option to extend the term by one additional two-year period or two additional one-year periods by mutual agreement of the County and LLUSM, allowing the Department’s Coroner Division to continue the Program and train an estimated 60 students per year, helping expand the pool of qualified professional pathologist assistants in the community.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 5, 2025, and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on November 21, 2025.