Dr. Robert E. Zipf Jr. was inspired to enter the field of medicine by his father, who was a physician. Discovering his interest in general medicine and, later, pathology, he received a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1962 and a Doctor of Medicine from The Ohio State University in 1966. Subsequently, Dr. Zipf served in the United States Air Force from 1967 until retiring at the rank of major in 1974. He also completed an internship at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and was trained in pathology at Duke University Health Systems.
Board-certified in pathology, Dr. Zipf is recognized as an award-winning medical laboratory director, legal medicine consultant, clinical and forensic pathologist, and educator. Supported by over 40 years of expertise in his field, he served the Nash General Hospital between 1978 and 2006 as director of clinical and diagnostic laboratories. Concurrently, he was a regional forensic pathologist in the State of North Carolina, as well as president of Zipf Pathology Associates from 1978 to 2005. Notably, Dr. Zipf’s eponymous business was a consulting company that specialized in medical forensics, laboratory management and laboratory software, through which he served numerous public and private companies.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Zipf served Duke University Health Systems as director of forensic pathology in 1967 and as an assistant professor. He also served as the director of radioisotope pathology at Riverside Methodist Hospital via OhioHealth and as a forensic pathologist in Franklin County, Ohio. Lending his expertise to academia, as well, Dr. Zipf was a clinical assistant professor at the East Carolina University School of Medicine from 1979 to 1989 and an adjunct professor at the Atlantic Christian College School of Medical Technology (now known as Barton College) from 1980 to 1989.
Furthermore, Dr. Zipf is an acclaimed consultant with specializations in medical forensics and laboratory management, having founded Clintrac Pathology Software. Now in his post-working years, Dr. Zipf has been involved in his field through the board of directors of Nash Community College and North Carolina Wesleyan University and the forensic advisory board of the North Carolina Department of Justice.
As a testament to his success, Dr. Zipf was honored with the President’s Cup for Services from Nash Community College in 2019. He was also recognized as an Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America.
