The ways Douglas College alum Rachelle Younie uses her Criminology and Forensic Pathology education to create art
Rachelle Younie wanted to apply to Douglas College because of the Criminology department’s unique course selection and hands-on learning approach. She felt supported and encouraged to strive toward her full potential in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Criminology.
A defining moment in Rachelle’s program was working at the Vancouver General Hospital morgue. Here, she observed and assisted nearly 35 autopsies, attended resident lectures and shadowed professional forensic pathologists. The practical experience she gained was invaluable and showed her what it could be like to work in the industry. It also inspired her published paper in 2020, “Pathologizing the Unknown: A Sociological Explanation for the (Mis)-Use of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as a Diagnosis.”, with the first draft written while she attended Douglas.
Since graduating, Rachelle has combined her passions for criminology and forensic pathology with writing, podcasting and film. She explores themes of dying, death and grief, and how to come to terms with it through her art. Rachelle’s criminology, forensics, and morgue experiences inform the stories she tells. Her podcast – Mortality and the Morgue – for example, explores many topics surrounding death and death investigation, including an episode titled Forensic Pathology with Dr. Jason Morin, who she did her practicum under. Next, she hopes to direct a feature film that she’s written on similar topics and submit it to an international film festival.
Describing her journey and passion since Douglas, Rachelle stated: “my experience learning about the criminal justice system, including how it intersects with medicine and marginalized communities inspired me to tell stories that will encourage critical discourse among people who otherwise may not have to opportunity to delve into these themes. My hope is that exploring them comedically in my artistic practice will make highlighting these challenging topics a digestible and enjoyable experience.”