POUGHKEEPSIE, NY ... Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has appointed Andrew R. Guajardo, M.D. to serve as Medical Examiner within the County’s Department of Health. The Dutchess County Legislature unanimously approved the appointment at its March 9 board meeting.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Guajardo as Dutchess County’s new Medical Examiner. We are grateful he has accepted this important responsibility, and I am confident that his professionalism, experience and commitment to public service will serve the residents of our community well in this new role.”
Dr. Guajardo, who grew up in the Hudson Valley, will return to the region to join Dutchess County Department of Health after serving with the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, where he served as Assistant Medical Examiner starting in 2019 and has most recently served as Deputy Medical Examiner since 2024.
Dr. Guajardo holds triple board certifications in Anatomic Pathology, Neuropathology and Forensic Pathology. He earned his M.D. from New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY in 2013, after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Forensic Science and Toxicology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY. He completed his post-graduate medical training from 2013-2018 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD and later completed a fellowship in Forensic Pathology for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator from 2018-2019. He is also an accomplished instructor, presenter and author of numerous publications.
Dr. Andrew R. Guajardo said, “I am honored to serve as Dutchess County’s Medical Examiner, and I thank County Executive Serino for this appointment. Throughout my career, I have worked with care, professionalism and respect for the families I’ve served. I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to Dutchess County and bring my experience to this role. I look forward to working with the County team to ensure this important work is carried out with compassion, integrity and a strong commitment to our community.”
The Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) investigates deaths that are sudden or unexpected, as well as natural deaths when the individual was not under a doctor’s care, and deaths resulting from homicide, suicide, or accidents. These investigations determine how and why a person died, providing families with clear and timely answers. In 2025, the MEO handled more than 1,500 cases, including 409 scene investigations and 450 cases requiring further review. The office conducted 53 autopsies, 75 external examinations, 119 death certifications, and three consultations.
Dr. Guajardo will officially begin as Medical Examiner on Monday, March 23rd. He replaces former Medical Examiner Dr. Dennis Chute, who retired last year. Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Grace Centeno has served as Medical Examiner during the interim.
Dr. Guajardo grew up in Hudson Valley, living in both Westchester and Dutchess County. He returns to the area with his wife and daughter and their dogs to enjoy favorite pastimes of hiking, photography, road cycling and cooking.
