In Lehigh County coroner race, it's experience versus a medical degree
By Kathleen Parrish
In Lehigh County, interim Coroner Daniel A Buglio, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Republican Dr. Joseph Zitarelli for a four-year term as coroner in the Nov. 7 election.
The position currently pays $72,100, but like the three other row offices, Lehigh County Commissioners voted to increase the salary to $87,700 in 2024; it will rise each year after that to $95,500 in 2027.
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office & Forensic Center investigates deaths resulting from criminal violence, accidents and suicides; deaths that were unattended by a physician for a reasonable period of time; suspicious deaths and deaths from an unusual manner.
In 2022, it handled 8,692 cases, including 19 homicides, 470 accidental deaths and 59 suicides.
The office, which operates 24/7, has a staff of 14-full-time employees and eight part-time employees.
Daniel A Buglio - Democrat
Buglio, a former Slatington police officer, has worked in the coroner’s office for nearly 24 years. He started in 2000 as deputy coroner and was promoted in 2019 to first deputy/operations manager.
In April 2022, he was named interim Coroner by Lehigh County Board of Commissioners after Coroner Eric Minnich resigned a year before completing his term. Buglio ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Allentown City Council in 2017.
Buglio, 50, said he is seeking election so he can continue “showing care, compassion and experience” to county residents, and continue his efforts of modernizing and humanizing Lehigh County’s coroner’s office, according to a news release.
Since his appointment to interim coroner about 18 months ago, Buglio has reorganized his management staff, promoting from within, and restructured the office schedule so supervisors are in the office from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., a news release said.
His office also received several state grants, including $100,000 for communication upgrades and $40,000 for providing data on violent deaths and deaths caused by opioid overdoses.
The office also received $45,000 for a Randox Toxicology Machine, which provides rapid toxicological results.
“The 4-8 week wait for most of our toxicology results is over. Soon, we will be able to provide toxicology results to the family of a loved one who died as a result of a prescription/illicit drug overdose in 30 minutes,” according to a Sept. 28 Facebook post, which also says Lehigh is the first county in Pennsylvania to purchase the device.
Buglio points to the Randox machine as an example of his efforts to save taxpayer dollars. Since taking office, Buglio said he initiated a pivotal change in the handling of drug overdose cases. Instead of opting for autopsies, which cost $1,900 per case, Buglio switched to conducting toxicology tests, which cost $400 per case.
With the Randox machine now operating in-house, the cost of a toxicology test is $32 per case.
“I’m always progressive,” he said.
In addition, dash-cams were installed in the coroner’s office fleet vehicles, iPads were obtained for deputy/investigators to use in real time during case entries and an online credit card system for funeral directors was installed to replace paper billing, the news release said.
His office also started a community outreach program that offers facility tours, job shadowing and PowerPoint presentations at community events, school groups and hospital institutions, the news release said.
In addition, his staff created a social media page, which has been useful in locating next-of-kin when necessary and providing a “behind-the-scenes” look at how the office operates, the news release said.
Buglio is a member of Lehigh County Suicide Prevention Coalition Task Force, Substance Use Task Force and co-chairs the Lehigh County Death Review Team. In 2005, he became a certified diplomat with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. He resides in South Whitehall with his husband.
Joseph Zitarelli – Republican
Zitarelli, 65, is a physician at Grandview Wound Center in Sellersville. Before that, he practiced at Advanced Wound Center LVH-Poconos.
He is running for coroner because he strongly believes that the position calls for an experienced physician.
“My training has put me in a unique position to fill the position by the fact that I’m a board certified surgeon and maintain board certification,” he said. “In the legal system, I’m considered a medical expert.”
The responsibilities of a coroner aren’t much different than those of a surgeon, he said. “We’re called to evaluate and gather all the information we can from medical records, examine the patient, order tests and make a diagnosis. It’s a similar process.”
Zitarelli noted that there is a shortage of forensic pathologists, and the office should consider alternate ways of obtaining information, including CT scans, which can perform virtual autopsies faster and less invasive than physical autopsies. With over 30 years of experience using CT scans, Zitarelli said he would put his expertise to good use in the post-mortem examination process.
He promises to be a good steward of taxpayer money and believes the coroner only answers to the residents of Lehigh County.
He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has 35 years of experience as a practicing physician and surgeon, according to his bio on the Lehigh County Republican Committee’s website. He earned a medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, formerly Hahnemann University School of Medicine, and has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Penn State University, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Zitarelli and his wife live in Center Valley.