Identifying Fallen Service Members Through Modern Science

We took a deep dive into the world of forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology through an enlightening conversation with Dr. Kirsten Verostick (aka Dr. V) on The Patient Experience Blueprint. Her work revolves around a project her team aptly calls Project FIND-EM — a fascinating endeavor aiming to unite technology and science to return unidentified service members to their families.

The mission of FIND-EM

The Project FIND-EM initiative, which stands for Forensic Identification of our Nation’s Deceased with Elemental Mapping, partners with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Their mission is to identify and return over 81,000 fallen service members, who remain unidentified, to their families. Dr. V’s expertise lies in applying her background in anthropology to facilitate the identification process.

In the early stages, FIND-EM was not the official name of this project. Yet its evolution speaks volumes about the innovative approach taken by Dr. V and her team. Their goal is to create a precise isotopic map using oxygen isotopes analyzed from wisdom teeth, or third molars, collected across the United States. Such a map can significantly streamline predictive modeling, illuminating the geographical regions these service members come from, paving the way for identification against regions they are likely or unlikely to be from.

An international effort with local impact

Despite the international implications of the research, Dr. V says that the project primarily operates within the United States. The refined isotopic map aims to provide a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize methods not just for identifying American service members, but for forensic identifications worldwide. This work has the promise of aiding efforts across many borders, including regions like Canada and Europe, where unidentified remains pose an ongoing challenge.

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