Thank you for your interest in the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program at the University of South Florida. This is a one-year, ACGME accredited fellowship with two positions available annually. Our mission is provide psychiatrists with the knowledge, skills, experience, training, and education to become highly effective psychiatric expert witnesses. Fellows in our program achieve this expertise through four core rotations.

During the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital rotation, fellows serve as a psychiatric expert to Veterans’ Treatment Court within the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Additionally, under the supervision of a forensic psychologist, fellows learn to administer the revised Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5-R) as well as several personality assessment instruments and instruments for the detection of feigned or exaggerated psychiatric symptoms. Fellows additionally collaborate with VA hospital leadership regarding complex medico-legal capacity determinations.

Correctional experience is completed through two rotations. First, at the Public Defender’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, fellows evaluate and treat defendants transitioning out of custody from the Pinellas County Jail and Pasco County Jail, and serve as a consultant to treating providers while defendants are in custody. Second, through Ibis Healthcare, fellows evaluate and treat defendants who are found incompetent to proceed or not guilty by reason of insanity. Treatment settings include secure state hospital placement as well as defendants transitioning back into the community.

Finally, at the University of South Florida rotation, fellows complete a wide variety of civil and criminal forensic cases. Fellows receive direct one-on-one supervision from a forensic psychiatrist throughout the completion of their cases, which is a particular emphasis and strength of our program. Direct and cross-examination testimony for these cases are regularly drilled. Criminal and civil cases are selected to ensure broad exposure to the various types of evaluations, with the expectation that upon graduation, fellows have the expertise to navigate any forensic case they receive.

Also through the University of South Florida rotation, fellows have dedicated education time for weekly didactics, including a comprehensive landmark case curriculum and standardized instrument curriculum, where fellows learn to administer and interpret structured assessments of malingering, competence to stand trial, and risk assessment. Instruction is provided by multidisciplinary faculty that including board-certified forensic psychiatrists, psychologists, and attorneys, with some faculty members having national reputations in areas such as competence to stand trial, addictions and the law, and child forensic psychiatry.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through ERAS.  Interviews generally take place between September and October, and positions will be filled through the NRMP Match program.  If you would like further information, please contact us.