Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in Stanford’s Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program. Our mission is to train the next generation of leaders in forensic psychiatry embodying the highest standards of ethics, scientific rigor, scholarship, and professionalism.

Correctional rotations are based in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) system, primarily at San Quentin and CMF (California Medical Facility, a California State prison dedicated to inmates with medical and psychiatric needs). Fellows conduct forensic examinations of inmates and work with an advanced psychopharmacology consultation service serving CDCR inmates. Fellows may also have the opportunity to testify in administrative law hearings, such as PC2602 involuntary medication hearings.

Fellows rotate with the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) where they conduct a range of forensic assessments, such as Offenders with a Mental Health Disorder (OMHD) assessments, restoration of competence evaluations, and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity extensions. Fellows will testify in Superior Court when requested. Fellows can also become involved in treating DSH patients, including justice-involved patients.

Fellows rotate at the VA PM&R inpatient and outpatient units with the goal of developing particular expertise in evaluating claims of brain damage and other biological factors in leading to offensive behaviors, guiding sentencing determinations, and assessing disability.

Fellows participate in the Santa Clara County court panel to perform court-appointed forensic psychiatric examinations including competency to stand trial evaluations and evaluations of criminal responsibility. These evaluations provide ample opportunity for supervised preparation of forensic psychiatric reports in criminal contexts. Fellows also accept other forensic evaluations from sources in the community via the Forensic Clinic and participate once per month in a clinic managing patients designated as Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs) under California law.

Our program’s didactic curriculum connects fellows to a network of forensic psychiatrists and psychologists. Program faculty meet with fellows in twice-monthly case conferences to share insights on forensic assessment, report-writing, and planning for testimony in a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Fellows will also participate in a Landmark Case Seminar reviewing holdings in the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law’s landmark cases.

Fellows can also elect to participate in didactics at the School of Law, which include courses on Neuroethics by Hank Greely, Mental Health Law, and Criminal Law. Interested fellows may also interface with law students via activities such as the Law Student Clinic and the Stanford Asylum Collaborative.

Fellows have protected time throughout the year to pursue scholarly projects. Stanford is fortunate to house all its schools on one unified campus, thus enabling ideal conditions for cross-fertilization and idea incubation, which drive innovation and scholarship.

Our fellowship is ACGME accredited for 2 fellows.

Information regarding the annual stipend and benefits can be found on the GME website. Note that incoming forensic psychiatry fellows are considered to be PGY-5s, regardless of prior fellowships completed.