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FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION PDF document
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Knoll
The Edge Effect:
Dr. Knoll's Forensic Blog

The Edge effect arises from the juxtaposition of contrasting environments in conjunction with the boundary between natural habitats, but here extrapolated to the "environment" of the human psyche and culture.

Forensic Psychiatry

Contact: Linette Thorp, Secretary
Phone: 315 464-3104
Fax: 315 464-3163
E-mail: thorpl@upstate.edu

This is an ACGME and Association of Psychiatry and Law approved one-year fellowship with a unique, close collaboration with the Law School at Syracuse University. Besides a strong didactic program, fellows enjoy a rich clinical experience with a wide range of patients at the Central New York Psychiatric Center, the Justice Center, and the state and county court system.

Areas of Study

Through teaching, experience and supervision, fellows learn the fundamental principles of forensic psychiatry. Some of the areas of study include:

  • Diagnostic skills
  • Detection of malingering
  • Evaluation and treatment of mentally disordered offenders
  • Suicide risk assessment and risk reduction plan
  • Violence risk assessment and risk reduction plan
  • Knowledge of basic legal principles and mental health law
  • Correctional mental health law and practice
  • Reviewing and summarizing records
  • Apply relevant legal standard to forensic analysis
  • Research skills (for cases, consultations, etc.)
  • Interviewing skills
  • Report writing skills
  • Opinion formation - clear, supported and well reasoned
  • Competence to stand trial
  • Insanity
  • Competence to consent to treatment
  • Effective communication: testifying/lecturing/speaking
  • Forensic clinical consultation
  • Special consultations (attorneys, law enforcement, etc.)
  • Professional conduct - ethical, honest, objective
  • Attention to safety issues and regulations in forensic settings
  • Systems knowledge of:
    • Correctional mental health system
    • Legal and criminal justice system
    • Legislative system
    • Forensic hospital system

Private Practice

Forensic fellows' study also involves landmark mental health case law, and courses at the College of Law at Syracuse University. Fellows work with supervisors on private forensic cases to learn the basics of private forensic psychiatry practice.

Private consultations typically involve issues such as:

  • Psychiatric Malpractice
  • Risk and Threat Assessment
  • Risk Assessment of NGRI Acquittees
  • Sanity
  • Competence to Stand Trial
  • Psychological Autopsies
  • Stalking
  • Work Place Violence

Fellows are supervised closely in forensic psychiatric evaluation, opinion formation and forensic report writing. Fellows are also encouraged to develop effective and persuasive public speaking skills by giving courtroom testimony and participating in teaching opportunities to SUNY residents and medical students.

Faculty

  • Dr. James Knoll, MD
  • Wanda Fremont, MD
  • Wendy Gordon, PhD
  • Mohammad Iqbal, PhD
  • Jonatham Kaplan, MD
  • Cecilia Leonard, MD
  • Donald Sawyer, PhD
  • Bruce Way, PhD

Publications