University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland program is one of the oldest and most well-established forensic training programs in the country. It was established in 1968 by Dr. Jonas Rappeport, the First President and first Medical Director of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL). It is fully accredited by the ACGME. Our graduates include many successful and highly regarded forensic clinicians throughout Maryland and the country. Former fellows serve as clinicians, educators, and hospital administrators. They are valued for their expertise in forensic psychiatry that impacts both clinical care and policy initiatives. Previous fellowship program directors and nationally renowned forensic psychiatrists, including Dr. Annette Hanson and Dr. Jeffrey Janofsky, have served in leadership positions in national and state organizations, including the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Our program is constantly evolving to accommodate the changing field of forensic psychiatry while also maintaining the high standards set by program’s predecessors.  The program is rigorous and well-received by trainees.

We accept three fellows into our program. One position is available for a child and adolescent trained psychiatrist.

Fellows divide their time between Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, the state’s only maximum-security forensic hospital; the Medical Office of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City; and the Howard County Detention Center. The child and adolescent trained psychiatrist will also rotate at Spring Grove Hospital Center (SGHC) treating and evaluating court-involved juveniles.

The fellows perform forensic evaluations under supervision, participate in some treatment settings, and provide forensic reports and testimony. Typical evaluations include competency to stand trial evaluations, not criminally responsible (NCR) evaluations, presentence evaluations, custody evaluations, termination of parental rights, and asylee evaluations. Fellows may also collaborate with private experts affiliated with the fellowship on private cases. These cases may include mitigation and disability evaluations.

While at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, fellows work alongside military fellows from the National Capital Consortium for the Center for Forensic Mental Health Science & Consultation in Bethesda, Maryland. This unique opportunity allows fellows to learn from one another about jurisdictional differences between state and federal cases.

Fellows receive extensive didactics experience. There are didactics every Friday from 9-10:30am, followed by journal club (from 10:45am-12pm) in which the AAPL landmark cases are discussed. There are biweekly case rounds and guest speakers are invited to participate. This will also include in-depth review of forensic reports and testimony preparation.  Fellows also audit a law class at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. They meet twice monthly with Dr. Neil Blumberg, a nationally renowned private expert.

Fellows are expected to perform research during the fellowship. This may include submitting articles to academic journals, presenting posters at local and national meetings, or lecturing to other medical professionals, attorneys, or relevant stakeholders.  The program makes every effort to work with fellows on a topic of interest to them.

We offer forensic elective rotations for residents at the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University.  Contact the program director for more information.