Jennifer LaCoss
Medical Director, Adult Palliative Care Services, University Hospital
Jennifer LaCoss, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She currently practices as the Medical Director for the Palliative Care Service at University Hospital in San Antonio, TX and is also an assistant professor at the Long School of Medicine and University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She enjoys educating medical students, nursing students, residents, and fellows about palliative medicine. A continued area of interest is in identifying and addressing abuse and exploitation of vulnerable populations. Dr. LaCoss currently serves on the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee for Bexar County.
Prior to her medical training, Dr. LaCoss earned a Master of Forensic Science degree and worked as a forensic scientist, specializing in DNA analysis. While obtaining her master’s degree, she worked closely with the Sex Crimes Unit at the San Diego Police Department and completed a thesis project titled “A Study of the Association Between DNA Analysis and Law Enforcement Outcomes in Cases of Sexual Assault Reported to San Diego Police Department.”
During her tenure as a forensic scientist, Dr. LaCoss provided expert witness testimony in criminal court proceedings and provided education to various disciplines including law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, and forensic nurse examiners. She also participated in educational outreach in the community, providing activities and lectures to students ranging from middle school up to college level.