Finding That Forensic Fellowship

It may seem early, but spring is the right time of year to start thinking about finding a fellowship. You know you're interested in forensic psychiatry and you've already broken the news to your spouse and family that for the next academic year, if all goes well, you will be evaluating murderers, arsonists, psychotic killers and future insanity acquittees. Your family members have resigned themselves to the fact that dinner conversation may turn to bizarre and possibly bloody topics.

How do you find the forensic fellowship that is right for you?

First, start early. Forensic psychiatry fellowships start accepting applications in the early spring, at the end of the third year of residency. Plan to have your application packet completed and submitted by the end of June. The applicant interview season runs from July through September, sometimes later depending on the program, but the majority of the programs have their slots filled by November. There are forty accredited programs nationally, most with at least two training slots (four in some rare larger programs), but there will be many more applicants than available positions. And with many states facing budget crises, some programs are cutting positions.

Your program choice will involve personal considerations as well as discussions with a spouse or other family members, but I’d like to offer some additional factors to consider.

There are no clear criteria or outcome measures to sort out the first tier from the second tier programs. After some preliminary investigation you'll learn that certain programs have reputations for being “the best” or are more competitive to get into than others. These big name programs often have well-known directors, people with lots of publications to their credit or who have held office in the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law (AAPL), the professional organization for forensic psychiatrists.

The problem with these "big name" programs is that they are run by a single guru. Learning from a guru can be an advantage because you will have access to professional connections that will help you advance quickly within the profession, but the problem with this is that your training may be confined to a single dominating philosophy. Forensic reports from programs like this are so uniform that someone can tell where you trained by the phrases you use, and that's a problem. Second tier programs without a single guru may give you a broader exposure to a diversity of opinions and approaches. This is good for a student who enjoys seeking out a variety of opinions and who likes a lot of feedback on a given case, but may be frustrating for someone who gets confused by conflicting advice. The perfect forensic fellowship is one which fits your preferred learning style.

The perfect forensic fellowship is one which has strong institutional support from its affiliated university. There are a number of ways to assess this. Strong institutional support is indicated by paid full time faculty, adequate administrative resources, and good working relationships between training sites. Poor institutional support is indicated by frequent turnover of program personnel or program directors. Newer programs may initially rely upon volunteer faculty; this may be an indicator that the program is not strong in scholarly activity or publishing. However, volunteer faculty teach for the enjoyment of working with students. They sacrifice professional time---and income---to work with you. That dedication could be worth the tradeoff if you aren't planning a career in academia.

For forensic psychiatry in particular, program location is important. If you know the geographic region you want to work in after training, look for a program in that region. Forensic training means learning the law of the land, and laws vary between states. Moving to a new state means you will have to learn the statutory and case law for that state, as well as any administrative procedures governing your work.

While we're on the topic of location, consider logistics and commute time. Forensic fellowships may have three or four different training sites: a primary academic institution, a forensic hospital, a court house and a jail or prison. The amount of time you spend driving between all these locations will be a significant influence on the quality of your life as a fellow. Does the program reimburse for travel expenses like gas or mileage? What about parking?

You may already have a specific interest in a certain aspect of forensic psychiatry: the treatment of sex offenders, or civil forensic work, or juvenile forensic evaluations. Be sure to ask about opportunities to pursue extra training or experience in these areas.

Most programs are good about telling applicants about the "special perks" of their programs since these are usually their best selling points, but if these aren't mentioned be sure to ask. Are there opportunities to attend conferences (and get reimbursed for conference costs!)? Are there chances to teach residents or medical students? How about opportunities to do independent study or research projects?

The last and least important factor to consider is salary. Salaries will vary quite a bit depending on program location, but most are generally consistent with the cost of living in that area. Don't base your program choice upon salary: no amount of money is worth a year of misery in a program you don't enjoy.

Finally, a word about safety: don't worry about it. In spite of the fact that you will be working with very sick or potentially violent people, forensic psychiatry programs are keen on safety. To the best of my knowledge, no forensic psychiatry fellow has been significantly injured during the course of their work.

For a list of forensic psychiatry fellowship programs visit the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law website at http://aapl.org/fellow.php.

Dr. Annette Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson's employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.

It may seem early, but spring is the right time of year to start thinking about finding a fellowship. You know you're interested in forensic psychiatry and you've already broken the news to your spouse and family that for the next academic year, if all goes well, you will be evaluating murderers, arsonists, psychotic killers and future insanity acquittees. Your family members have resigned themselves to the fact that dinner conversation may turn to bizarre and possibly bloody topics.

How do you find the forensic fellowship that is right for you?

First, start early. Forensic psychiatry fellowships start accepting applications in the early spring, at the end of the third year of residency. Plan to have your application packet completed and submitted by the end of June. The applicant interview season runs from July through September, sometimes later depending on the program, but the majority of the programs have their slots filled by November. There are forty accredited programs nationally, most with at least two training slots (four in some rare larger programs), but there will be many more applicants than available positions. And with many states facing budget crises, some programs are cutting positions.

Your program choice will involve personal considerations as well as discussions with a spouse or other family members, but I’d like to offer some additional factors to consider.

There are no clear criteria or outcome measures to sort out the first tier from the second tier programs. After some preliminary investigation you'll learn that certain programs have reputations for being “the best” or are more competitive to get into than others. These big name programs often have well-known directors, people with lots of publications to their credit or who have held office in the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law (AAPL), the professional organization for forensic psychiatrists.

The problem with these "big name" programs is that they are run by a single guru. Learning from a guru can be an advantage because you will have access to professional connections that will help you advance quickly within the profession, but the problem with this is that your training may be confined to a single dominating philosophy. Forensic reports from programs like this are so uniform that someone can tell where you trained by the phrases you use, and that's a problem. Second tier programs without a single guru may give you a broader exposure to a diversity of opinions and approaches. This is good for a student who enjoys seeking out a variety of opinions and who likes a lot of feedback on a given case, but may be frustrating for someone who gets confused by conflicting advice. The perfect forensic fellowship is one which fits your preferred learning style.

The perfect forensic fellowship is one which has strong institutional support from its affiliated university. There are a number of ways to assess this. Strong institutional support is indicated by paid full time faculty, adequate administrative resources, and good working relationships between training sites. Poor institutional support is indicated by frequent turnover of program personnel or program directors. Newer programs may initially rely upon volunteer faculty; this may be an indicator that the program is not strong in scholarly activity or publishing. However, volunteer faculty teach for the enjoyment of working with students. They sacrifice professional time---and income---to work with you. That dedication could be worth the tradeoff if you aren't planning a career in academia.

For forensic psychiatry in particular, program location is important. If you know the geographic region you want to work in after training, look for a program in that region. Forensic training means learning the law of the land, and laws vary between states. Moving to a new state means you will have to learn the statutory and case law for that state, as well as any administrative procedures governing your work.

While we're on the topic of location, consider logistics and commute time. Forensic fellowships may have three or four different training sites: a primary academic institution, a forensic hospital, a court house and a jail or prison. The amount of time you spend driving between all these locations will be a significant influence on the quality of your life as a fellow. Does the program reimburse for travel expenses like gas or mileage? What about parking?

You may already have a specific interest in a certain aspect of forensic psychiatry: the treatment of sex offenders, or civil forensic work, or juvenile forensic evaluations. Be sure to ask about opportunities to pursue extra training or experience in these areas.

Most programs are good about telling applicants about the "special perks" of their programs since these are usually their best selling points, but if these aren't mentioned be sure to ask. Are there opportunities to attend conferences (and get reimbursed for conference costs!)? Are there chances to teach residents or medical students? How about opportunities to do independent study or research projects?

The last and least important factor to consider is salary. Salaries will vary quite a bit depending on program location, but most are generally consistent with the cost of living in that area. Don't base your program choice upon salary: no amount of money is worth a year of misery in a program you don't enjoy.

Finally, a word about safety: don't worry about it. In spite of the fact that you will be working with very sick or potentially violent people, forensic psychiatry programs are keen on safety. To the best of my knowledge, no forensic psychiatry fellow has been significantly injured during the course of their work.

For a list of forensic psychiatry fellowship programs visit the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law website at http://aapl.org/fellow.php.

Dr. Annette Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson's employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.

It may seem early, but spring is the right time of year to start thinking about finding a fellowship. You know you're interested in forensic psychiatry and you've already broken the news to your spouse and family that for the next academic year, if all goes well, you will be evaluating murderers, arsonists, psychotic killers and future insanity acquittees. Your family members have resigned themselves to the fact that dinner conversation may turn to bizarre and possibly bloody topics.

How do you find the forensic fellowship that is right for you?

First, start early. Forensic psychiatry fellowships start accepting applications in the early spring, at the end of the third year of residency. Plan to have your application packet completed and submitted by the end of June. The applicant interview season runs from July through September, sometimes later depending on the program, but the majority of the programs have their slots filled by November. There are forty accredited programs nationally, most with at least two training slots (four in some rare larger programs), but there will be many more applicants than available positions. And with many states facing budget crises, some programs are cutting positions.

Your program choice will involve personal considerations as well as discussions with a spouse or other family members, but I’d like to offer some additional factors to consider.

There are no clear criteria or outcome measures to sort out the first tier from the second tier programs. After some preliminary investigation you'll learn that certain programs have reputations for being “the best” or are more competitive to get into than others. These big name programs often have well-known directors, people with lots of publications to their credit or who have held office in the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law (AAPL), the professional organization for forensic psychiatrists.

The problem with these "big name" programs is that they are run by a single guru. Learning from a guru can be an advantage because you will have access to professional connections that will help you advance quickly within the profession, but the problem with this is that your training may be confined to a single dominating philosophy. Forensic reports from programs like this are so uniform that someone can tell where you trained by the phrases you use, and that's a problem. Second tier programs without a single guru may give you a broader exposure to a diversity of opinions and approaches. This is good for a student who enjoys seeking out a variety of opinions and who likes a lot of feedback on a given case, but may be frustrating for someone who gets confused by conflicting advice. The perfect forensic fellowship is one which fits your preferred learning style.

The perfect forensic fellowship is one which has strong institutional support from its affiliated university. There are a number of ways to assess this. Strong institutional support is indicated by paid full time faculty, adequate administrative resources, and good working relationships between training sites. Poor institutional support is indicated by frequent turnover of program personnel or program directors. Newer programs may initially rely upon volunteer faculty; this may be an indicator that the program is not strong in scholarly activity or publishing. However, volunteer faculty teach for the enjoyment of working with students. They sacrifice professional time---and income---to work with you. That dedication could be worth the tradeoff if you aren't planning a career in academia.

For forensic psychiatry in particular, program location is important. If you know the geographic region you want to work in after training, look for a program in that region. Forensic training means learning the law of the land, and laws vary between states. Moving to a new state means you will have to learn the statutory and case law for that state, as well as any administrative procedures governing your work.

While we're on the topic of location, consider logistics and commute time. Forensic fellowships may have three or four different training sites: a primary academic institution, a forensic hospital, a court house and a jail or prison. The amount of time you spend driving between all these locations will be a significant influence on the quality of your life as a fellow. Does the program reimburse for travel expenses like gas or mileage? What about parking?

You may already have a specific interest in a certain aspect of forensic psychiatry: the treatment of sex offenders, or civil forensic work, or juvenile forensic evaluations. Be sure to ask about opportunities to pursue extra training or experience in these areas.

Most programs are good about telling applicants about the "special perks" of their programs since these are usually their best selling points, but if these aren't mentioned be sure to ask. Are there opportunities to attend conferences (and get reimbursed for conference costs!)? Are there chances to teach residents or medical students? How about opportunities to do independent study or research projects?

The last and least important factor to consider is salary. Salaries will vary quite a bit depending on program location, but most are generally consistent with the cost of living in that area. Don't base your program choice upon salary: no amount of money is worth a year of misery in a program you don't enjoy.

Finally, a word about safety: don't worry about it. In spite of the fact that you will be working with very sick or potentially violent people, forensic psychiatry programs are keen on safety. To the best of my knowledge, no forensic psychiatry fellow has been significantly injured during the course of their work.

For a list of forensic psychiatry fellowship programs visit the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law website at http://aapl.org/fellow.php.

Dr. Annette Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson's employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.