University of Texas Medical Branch

The University of Texas Medical Branch (Greater Galveston and Houston region) is seeking a Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry for the 2027-2028 (start date 7/1/27) academic year. This ACGME-accredited one-year fellowship is an exciting chance to gain subspecialty training in psychiatry and law. The position is open to candidates who will have completed general psychiatry residency by the start of fellowship. The fellowship is a comprehensive training program that incorporates academic, correctional, community, administrative, and governmental settings. UTMB offers a diverse range of clinical forensic experiences, a robust research program, and strong collaborations with NASA, the Texas state prison system, and the Harris County Jail. Fellows will have unique opportunities to become versed in aerospace psychiatry, medical leadership, and research in forensic and correctional psychiatry.

– Fellows rotate approximately two days per week on the UTMB Forensic Service, where they provide forensic evaluation and consultation to local courts and attorneys. Fellows should expect to complete approximately 20-25 competence to stand trial evaluations and 10-15 non-competency evaluations (insanity, sentencing mitigation, fitness for duty, asylum, guardianship, testamentary capacity, personal injury, malpractice, etc.) over the course of the year, testifying as needed.

– Fellows rotate one day per week in the Texas prison system, where they join medical leadership to evaluating, developing, and improving mental health policy and programming in the prison system. Notably, although fellows provide direct patient care in the correctional setting, a goal of the rotation is to develop administrative and leadership skills.

– Fellows rotate one day per week in Harris County Jail, where they provide jail-based competency restoration treatment and conduct competency and sanity evaluations.

– Fellows rotate full-time for one month at NASA Johnson Space Center (the site of mission control and astronaut training), where they join NASA’s prestigious Aerospace Medicine Clerkship. They tour NASA facilities, receive training about the science, medicine, and mental health considerations involved in human spaceflight, and are mentored by NASA aerospace forensic psychiatrists. Fellows also participate in fitness for duty assessments for NASA and the FAA. Additional experiences in aerospace and aviation are available as well.

– Fellows have didactic sessions totaling approximately one day per week, including lectures, case seminars, Landmark Cases, and group and individual supervision. Fellows prepare for and testify at mock trial. They attend the Forensic Board Review Course at the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Annual Meeting and may attend one other conference.

– Additional experiences and mentorship are available for child and adolescent psychiatrists.

Interested candidates should contact Rocksheng Zhong, Fellowship Training Director: [email protected], 409-266-5253.