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Fellowship Program Details

University of South Carolina

Palmetto Health Alliance

Director(s) Richard L. Frierson, MD+
Address Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science
Univ. of South Carolina School of Medicine
3555 Harden Street Ext.
Suite 301
Columbia, SC
Zip Code 29203
Telephone (803) 434-2018
Fax (803) 434-2985
Email richard.frierson@uscmed.sc.edu
URL http://academics.prismahealth.org/graduate-medical-education/fellowships/forensic-psychiatry-columbia
Program Coordinator and Email Andree Robinson andree.robinson@prismahealth.org
Level PGY-5
Positions 2
Accredited by ACGME Yes
Annual Stipend $62254 & travel expenses to AAPL and review course
Offers forensic elective for medical students. Contact program director for details.
Offers forensic elective for residents. Contact program director for details.


Program description

One of the first accredited fellowships in the country, this fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The faculty consists of five board certified forensic psychiatrists and uses resources of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine as well as the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, and University Specialty Clinics. The program is based in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at the School of Medicine.

The flexible clinical experience allows fellows to spend the first six months conducting pretrial competency and criminal resposibility evaluations in an outpatient specialized forensic evaluation service and providing court testimony. The second six months is spent in civil work in a forensic clinic at the School of Medicine performing personal injury, disability, testamentary capacity, and fitness for duty evaluations. Fellows also participate in evaluations for the USC Professionals Wellness Program which receives referrals for fitness for duty evaluations from the S.C. medical board and other professional licensing boards. Fellows assist faculty in the evaluation of medical malpractice cases. The remaining clinical experience is divided between treatment of adult offenders one half day for six months at a maximum security prison, testifying at release hearings for insanity acquittees, providing forensic consultation to general and child psychiatrists, and research. Fellows receive supervised courtroom experience, providing testimony about their evaluations. Fellows provide direct supervision of general psychiatry residents and medical students. Research is strongly supported and encouraged. Fellows receive a travel stipend to attend the annual meeting of AAPL, as well as the AAPL Forensic Review Course.

The didactic curriculum includes four seminars: Landmark Cases, The Psychiatrist in Court, General Topics in Forensic Psychiatry, and Overview of Legal Systems. The educational experience is also complemented with monthly Forensic Psychiatry Grand Rounds.

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