About the Forensic Psychiatry Residency

• Overview
• Clinical Rotations
• Didactics

Program Overview

The University of North Carolina Forensic Psychiatry Residency Training Program is a 12-month educational program the aim of which is to prepare psychiatrists for a career in forensic psychiatry in the public sector.  The program provides a variety of educational experiences in a wide range of criminal and civil settings.  Residents have extensive opportunities to engage in supervised evaluations of individuals in the criminal justice system in both pre-trial and post-conviction settings.  In addition, Forensic Residents obtain experience in courtroom testimony, family law, child forensic issues, and civil litigation.  They rotate on the state of North Carolina's inpatient pre-trial evaluation unit at Dorothea Dix Hospital, mental health clinics in nearby prisons, and the child forensic team at the University of North Carolina.  They provide consultation and liaison services to hospitals and they work one-on-one learning civil forensic psychiatry.  Residents are also expected to engage in research and teaching.  The forensic board-certified faculty members and invited speakers provide exposure to outstanding didactics.

Clinical Rotations

Dorothea Dix Hospital Forensic Psychiatry Service
The Forensic Psychiatry Service of Dorothea Dix Hospital serves as the statewide forensic facility for pre-trial evaluations and includes the forensic treatment units for the State of North Carolina.  Residents rotate on the Service for twelve months, where, under supervision, they evaluate inpatient criminal defendants to determine competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and diminished capacity.  Residents are expected to evaluate at least one case per week and when subpoenaed, they testify as expert witnesses.

Residents also provide forensic consultations in other parts of the Hospital as well as teach medical students and General Psychiatry residents who rotate on the Service.  The Forensic faculty consists of five board-certified forensic psychiatrists, three forensic psychologists, and one attorney.  The Forensic Psychiatry Service at Dorothea Dix Hospital is also the primary site for the forensic didactic curriculum.

University of North Carolina Hospitals Forensic Psychiatry Service
Residents rotate one day per week for six months on the Forensic Psychiatry Service.  They act as a full member of the team conducting evaluations on adults, children, and families.  Residents are supervised by a faculty member who is board-certified in both forensic and child psychiatry.

North Carolina Department of Correction
Residents rotate for one full year in correctional outpatient mental health clinics at either the Central Prison or the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women.  Under the supervision of the Mental Health Director and Department of Correction psychiatrists, residents spend two days each week evaluating and treating sentenced and pre-trial inmates.  Although they engage primarily in individual psychotherapy and medication management, residents also have the opportunity to conduct forensic consultations regarding competency issues, forced medication reviews, sentencing evaluations, and sex offender evaluations.

University of North Carolina Student Health Service
When requested, residents assist the Student Health Service by conducting supervised risk assessments of potentially dangerous students during the course of the year.  They also provide liaison with the interdisciplinary treatment team.   Forensic psychiatry faculty members provide close supervision.

Civil Forensic Preceptorship
Residents spend twelve months performing a civil forensic preceptorship.  They spend part of one day each week reviewing a variety of civil cases, including malpractice and personal injury cases, under the preceptorship of Seymour Halleck, M.D., a nationally renowned forensic psychiatrist.  They review cases, write reports, and assist Dr. Halleck as opportunities arise.  Residents have an opportunity to observe depositions, pre-trial conferences, and courtroom testimony.

Didactics

The main didactic portion of the training program consists of two seminars and one case conference:

1. The Forensic Seminar meets weekly for most of the year and includes mock trial experience;
2. The Landmark Case Seminar meets weekly in the second half of the year and covers the Landmark Cases as chosen by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law;
3. The Forensic Difficult Case Conference meets weekly throughout the year.  Residents are expected to participate in interviews, presentations, and discussions about the more complex and interesting patients evaluated on the Pre-trial Evaluation Unit and others.

Other continuing medical education activities include Grand Rounds, lectures, case conferences, and teleconferences available at both Dorothea Dix Hospital and the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

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