Anyone looking into Forensic Psychiatry?

[whopper]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've gone through several interviews at this point (6) with 2 more. There's a small possibility a few more may be done.

Anyone else going for forensics? Care to discuss your experiences & thoughts on what you've seen at each program?

 

[Poety2]

I've gone through several interviews at this point (6) with 2 more. There's a small possibility a few more may be done.

Anyone else going for forensics? Care to discuss your experiences & thoughts on what you've seen at each program?

good luck whopper - we have 3 applying this year, one who got an interview at case with resnick - where have you interviewed?

 

[whopper]

So far

UPMC (Pittsburgh)
U Mass
Albert Einstein (in NYC)
Columbia (in NYC-the Ivy League one with Paul Applebaum, there's another program with a Columbia name elsewhere)
U of Wisconsin
U of Cincinatti
U of Oregon

NYU just offered me an interview

Still have an interview scheduled for Tulane in October.

So far the interview travelling has been exhausting. However checking out several different programs has been giving me insights into these programs and a basis of comparison. Anasazi also has been helpful in answering some of my questions via PM.

I did get an offer from U of Cincinatti however they encouraged me to still check out the other programs-which actually made me like that program more. Most of the programs were very nice & friendly. A few did the "pressure" interview/pimp thing. I don't want to mention the programs' names only because I don't feel I'd be treating them fairly by doing so.

Some things to consider--
1) the pay
2) the location
3) some programs heavily work hand in hand with forensic psychologists--important because they use psychometric testing tools to detect malingering & other problems we are not as trained to detect & test for. Other programs have little to no cooperation with psychologists
4) some of the programs heavily enourage research & publications, others don't
5) make sure it is ACGME accredited
6)consider if the program will allow you to go to the AAPL convention without having to use vacation time. Some programs will pay for your AAPL membership & convention expenses
7) consider if the program teaches landmark cases as part of its curriculum
8) does the program allow you to see both male & female offenders? consider if it allows you to see sex offenders
9) will the faculty become that type of mentor you will be able to rely on asking for help after you graduate should you come across a situation where you still feel insecure to tackle on your own? (this will happen, even the best attendings from time to time will be stumped). Forensic psychiatry is a highly specialized field and it will be prudent to have back up sources for guidance even after graduation.

finally and perhaps the most important factors---
Will it get you where you want to be professionally & will you enjoy your stay there?

Anyways, it has been exhausting doing all this travelling but considering the highly specialized nature of the field, its given me insight I feel I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. there's no "barron's" guide to picking a fellowship.

 

[Anasazi23]

Go to NYU so we can all have class together 😀.

Great points made by Whopper. Also consider:

1. Civil vs. criminal experience. Some balance the training quite well...others focus much more on one vs. another. For instance, if you want to do private practice, civil forensics, and you spend most of your time doing NGRI and competency evals in the prison, you might not be as happy. (though in the end, you can do whatever you like)

2. Consider call. Yes, call. It sneaks in there sometimes without you knowing it. A couple/few times a year isn't bad, but definately find out how much responsibility you'll have, how often it is, and if you're primarily overseeing residents.

3. Find out about moonlighting - either within the institution, or outside. Also consider faculty practice offers within the sponsoring insitution.

4. Find out about a research or publication requirement. May be good or bad, depending on your viewpoint.

5. Find out if the program has any gov't or city contracts. i.e. Does the program have the FDNY (NYC Fire Dept.) disability or workman's comp. contract? If so, you'll get experience doing that and writing those types of reports - which can be great for private practice.

6. Find out about court and testifying experience. How much is there? In what capacity? Generally the more, the better for this one.


Maybe I'll think of more later.

 

[Lauraaa]

Could those of you who are in a forensics fellowship or recently accepted into one comment a bit on what you've found as far as the differences in forensics training at different programs regarding the above considerations? Particularly tidbits on NYU, Columbia, Einstein, Davis, USC, and UCLA that you found through interviewing that wasn't on their websites?

Thank you in advance!

 

[nitemagi]

This is pretty high on my list. Actually considering Child Forensics.

 

[franklinthedog]

Can I ask an ignorant question. I'm only applying to residency now, so my knowledge is limited. I did a month in the pre-trail forensic unit in NC and enjoyed it.

However, my concern is this, to be truly successful and get hired repeatedly, don't the lawyers almost "expect" you to say a certain thing or have a certain slant, one which would be favorable for their defendant? I don't want to anger people at all, I want to hear from those informed what their thoughts are as I think doing forensics part-time would be quite appealing.

Any thoughts?

Thanks tons in advance and good luck to all of you applying to forensics fellowships.

 

[nitemagi]

My understanding (as an intern) is that you're hired as a consultant, but you testify to your professional opinion. You charge for your time in evaluating, but don't just tell the attorney that you can't testify on their side. You still bill for the preliminary work, either way.

 

[whopper]

don't the lawyers almost "expect" you to say a certain thing or have a certain slant,

I don't have much experience in this field, but from what I've heard--from several forensic attendings is you don't want to be or present yourself as a hired gun.

Meaning that you don't want to defend someone or work on the prosecution of someone based on bull. You have to have good reason to present what you do & defend it.

Forensics like medicine has a written record for EVERYTHING. However in forensics, your records will be under scrutiny much more than medicine. Often times in medicine, your records will never see the light of day in court. Not so in forensics.

One thing I'm loving so far is the forensic psychiatrist I'm currently working with, if he feels he cannot provide a psychiatric defense, he will say so to the lawyer & the client. He's not going to make up some bull to defend someone. So far, about 50% of the people we've I've seen (with this attending) were people we both believed were malingering, trying to get a "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense, that we believed were faking it.

This doctor just said something to the effect that he would tell the lawyer that the client didn't fit the NGRI criteria, & told the client the reasons why he should not pursue it..e.g. NGRI in this case would probably not be believed by the jury & they tend to then give harsher sentences to people trying to use that defense because they intepret that the defendant may have been trying to manipulate them.

From what I've been told--the best thing commercially for yourself is to do the right thing.