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Yale University - Department of Psychiatry

Law and Psychiatry Division

Director(s) Howard V. Zonana, MD*+
Associate Training Dir.. Reena Kapoor MD, Charles Dike MD
Address Yale University School of Medicine
Law and Psychiatry Division
34 Park Street
New Haven, CT
Zip Code 06519
Telephone 203) 974-7169
Fax (203) 974-7177
Email howard.zonana@yale.edu
URL http://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/law/education/fellowship/index.aspx
Program Coordinator and Email Patricia DelTosta
Level PGY-5+
Positions 6
Accredited by ACGME Yes
Annual Stipend $76,000
Offers forensic elective for medical students. Contact program director for details.
Offers forensic elective for residents. Contact program director for details.


Program description

***Application deadline for the 2017-2018 fellowship year is May 20, 2016! Interviews will be conducted in mid-June for 2016. ****
The fellowship is a full-time, one-year experience focused on forensic evaluations and the legal regulation of psychiatric practice. The program is based in the Law and Psychiatry Division of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale and includes rotations/placements at: 1) Yale Law School; 2) New Haven Office of Court Evaluations; 3) attorneys offices (states attorney, public defender); 4) Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital (maximum and medium security treatment centers); 5) VA Connecticut Health Care System 6) Department of Children and Families facilities; and 7) the CT Department of Correction.
The program has two tracks, each with a unique training focus and clinical experience:
Adult (5 positions) - This track offers a general experience in forensic psychiatry, focused on forensic evaluation and treatment of adults.
Child (1 position) - This track offers a fellow with interest and/or experience in child psychiatry the opportunity to gain additional training in the forensic evaluation and treatment of children. Completion of a child psychiatry fellowship is preferred but not required. The track includes rotations in a children\\\'s psychiatric hospital (the Solnit Center), a juvenile detention facility (Connecticut Juvenile Training School), and the New Haven Juvenile Court.
Both tracks have the same overall goals, including:
1. Understanding the legal standards and concepts in civil and criminal forensic evaluations.
2. Learning the principles and current trends in the legal regulation of psychiatric practice; e.g. civil commitment, confidentiality, liability, duty to third parties, physician/patient relationships, ethics, right to refuse treatment, and informed consent.
3. Becoming familiar with public sector psychiatry administration and the special issues involved with mental health treatment in jail, prisons, and maximum security treatment centers.
4. Developing a knowledge base in areas of psychiatry particularly relevant to forensics, such as malingering, neuropsychiatric disorders, sexual disorders, and substance use disorders.
5. Gaining experience in preparing forensic reports, testifying as an expert witness, and consulting to attorneys and governmental bodies regarding mental health policy.
6. Completing a scholarly project, either empirical research or review of the legal and/or psychiatric literature.

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