Carolinas Medical Center Program

Atrium Health's Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship is a comprehensive, one-year program designed to train psychiatrists at the vital intersection of psychiatry and the legal system. The program emphasizes the translation of forensic psychiatric expertise into community psychiatric care, enhancing fellows' capabilities in both clinical consultation and educational roles within general psychiatric settings, while also providing consultation to legal professionals. The fellowship includes work with an underserved forensic psychiatric inpatient population at Broughton Hospital, where fellows conduct evaluations of competence to stand trial and provide related restoration services. These evaluations and restoration treatments are also performed in an outpatient community-based program at Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte utilizing both in-person and telepsychiatry methods 1.

The fellowship is rooted in a strong commitment to education and mentorship, supported by an experienced faculty comprised of board-certified forensic psychiatrists. These faculty members engage in teaching, presenting, and writing, giving fellows exposure to a broad array of civil and criminal cases, including topics such as sanity, diminished capacity, psychiatric malpractice, guardianship, fitness for duty, and risk assessments 2.

Training Sites

The training for the fellowship occurs primarily at two facilities:

• Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte: This facility, part of the Carolinas Medical Center, provides a variety of mental health services and support to individuals in need.
• Broughton Hospital: A state psychiatric hospital located in Western North Carolina, Broughton Hospital caters to patients needing mental health services, especially focusing on those deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Program Rotations

During the program, fellows undertake various rotations to cultivate a diverse array of skills:

• Community Capacity Restoration Program: Fellows work on restoring capacity for defendants found incapable of proceeding with trial, focusing on treatment planning, capacity assessments, and community risk evaluations.
• Forensic Consultation: Fellows provide forensic consultation across various psychiatric settings, including inpatient units and psychiatric emergency departments, conducting assessments for civil commitment and guardianship, as well as risk assessments for both adults and children.

Curriculum

The curriculum is meticulously structured to cover the essential knowledge and practical skills fostered through:

• Landmark Case Series: This weekly didactic series focuses on landmark cases identified by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, as well as local cases of interest, enhancing fellows' analytical competencies with legal opinions.
• Regular Didactic Series: Fellows participate in weekly sessions focusing on core concepts in forensic psychiatry, cultural competence, and the unique challenges residing in the field.
• Case Conferences: Regularly scheduled case conferences enable deeper discussion around unique and challenging cases from both Broughton Hospital and Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte.
• Mock Trials: Fellows gain experience in effective communication during depositions and trial testimonies through regular mock trial sessions, honing their skills in various roles such as witnesses and examiners.

Application Requirements

The fellowship seeks candidates who demonstrate a profound commitment to the field. Potential applicants should note specific application requirements, which could include considerations regarding the year of graduation and maximum allowed failures on STEP exams, along with others that may be outlined during the application process.

Visa Support

The program may offer visa sponsorship for qualified international medical graduates, potentially including categories such as J-1 and H-1B visas, thereby providing opportunity for non-U.S. citizens to apply and participate in the fellowship.

Competitiveness

The fellowship is markedly competitive, appealing to a wide range of applicants including U.S. Medical Graduates (USMGs), International Medical Graduates (IMGs), and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) candidates. It is conducive to candidates who demonstrate a strong interest in the intersection of psychiatry and the legal field.