The duties of the state chief medical examiner and deputy medical examiner include but are not limited to the following: (1) providing assistance and consultation to associate medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers; (2) providing court testimony when necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter; (3) stimulating and directing research in the field of forensic pathology; (4) maintaining an ongoing educational and training program for associate medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers; (5) appointing associate medical examiners; and (6) performing autopsies as requested.