PEOPLE

Director of Research Autopsy Center, Director of Autopsy Services

Dr. Jody E. Hooper is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine and the creator of the new Research Autopsy Center at Stanford.  She was previously the Director of Autopsy and of the Legacy Gift Rapid Autopsy program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.  She has performed nearly 1100 autopsies including over 120 rapid research autopsies.  Her research focuses on the use of postmortem tissue in research, including utilizing autopsy tissue in characterizing cancer evolution from genetic and immunologic standpoints.   She has published many papers on autopsy and quality and co-edited a book, Autopsy in the 21st Century. 

Research Autopsy Program Coordinator

Leigh Ann Fraley is the Research Autopsy Program Coordinator for the Research Autopsy Center at Stanford. Prior to working at Stanford, she spent over 20 years working executive assistant positions at various companies including Skylawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park and Citibank. She has extensive experience in counseling bereaved families and managing calendars, handling legal documents, coordinating communication, processing purchases, and creating a positive work environment. At the RACS, she coordinates logistics with patients and family members as well as fostering teamwork among pathologists, researchers, and medical professionals.

Life Science Technician II

Emily Reilly is the Specimen Technician for the Research Autopsy Center at Stanford. Prior to arriving at Stanford, Emily earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacology from The University of California Santa Barbara where she developed a novel bacteriotherapy for mesothelioma. She previously worked for several years in the preclinical sector of drug development, where she led the pathology phase of many studies, including a compassionate use Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy gene therapy study. The drug from that study, Elevidys recently received FDA approval in June of 2023. As a member of the Rapid Autopsy Center, she assists in research projects and provides hands on specimen assistance during research autopsies.

Autopsy Attendant

Ashely is the Autopsy Attendant for the Research Autopsy Center at Stanford.  Prior to arriving at Stanford, Ashely spent over six years in the field of forensic pathology.  Her career path has been marked by a diverse range of responsibilities, including testifying in court, overseeing operations, training others, and actively contributing to cases. In her current role within the Research Autopsy Center, Ashley plays a pivotal role by offering hands-on support during research autopsies.