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Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship

Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
600 E. Genesee Street
Suite 217
600 East Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
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Phone: 315 464-3104
Fax: 315 464-7188
Name: Linette Thorp, Program Administrator
Email: thorpl@upstate.edu

This is an ACGME and American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law approved one-year fellowship with a unique, close collaboration with the College of Law 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 Onondaga County 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

Application Procedure

If you have difficulty accessing this file, please call our office: 315 464-3104

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

  • James Knoll, MD
  • Carmen Nichita, MD
  • Sanjay K. Chhablani, JD
  • Brandon Reynolds, MD
  • Jonathan Kaplan, MD
  • Wendy Gordon, PhD
  • Sandra Antoniak, MD

Publications

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