NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship is a full-time one-year program that trains fellows to become proficient in the practice of forensic psychiatry, including evaluations, report writing, courtroom testimony, and treatment in correctional settings.

Under the leadership of Catherine Mier, MD, program director, and Danielle Kushner, MD, associate program director, the fellowship features extensive training in forensic evaluations and treatment, as well as a didactic curriculum to ensure you are fully prepared to practice in an academic or clinical setting. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Fellowship Rotations

We emphasize evaluation, report writing, research, and teaching at our wide variety of training sites. All supervised rotations are accessible by public transportation. Each rotation lasts ten to eleven weeks, except the Private Practice rotation that is 30 – 32 weeks.

Forensic Psychiatry Inpatient Service, Bellevue Hospital

This rotation on the jail unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue helps fellows develop the knowledge necessary to treat incarcerated patients with acute mental illness who require an inpatient level of mental health care. Fellows will have the opportunity to testify in matters of treatment over objection and hospital retention.

Rikers Island Correctional Center

During this rotation at Rikers Island under NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services fellows will learn about the management of mental health care in a large correctional setting. They will manage a diverse range of psychopathology on a specialized mental health unit and be exposed to other medical and mental health services across the Rikers Island jail complex. Fellows are invited to participate in ongoing quality improvement and research projects and attend New York City Board of Correction hearings.

Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation Court Clinics, Correctional Health Services

This rotation teaches fellows how to perform court ordered psychiatric competency evaluations of male and female criminal defendants and write forensic psychiatry reports for submission to the NYC courts and probation department. Fellows may be asked to testify in criminal court regarding the findings of their evaluations.

Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center

During the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center rotation, fellows perform assessments, write comprehensive forensic reports and provide testimony on "not guilty by reason of insanity" acquittees to determine their current risk of dangerousness and appropriate level of treatment and oversight. Fellows also perform evaluations for treatment over objection and run two therapeutic groups a week.

Manhattan Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program

During training at this program, fellows learn how to perform comprehensive forensic examinations for men and women referred for court-mandated outpatient treatment pursuant to Kendra’s Law in New York State. Many of these cases will require fellows to testify before a judge regarding the findings of their evaluations.

The Private Practice of Forensic Psychiatry

This rotation teaches fellows about the private practice of general adult and child and adolescent forensic psychiatry. Fellows will perform evaluations, write reports, and observe faculty testimony in both criminal and civil courts. Cases may involve issues of child custody, juvenile justice, criminal responsibility, immigration issues, personal injury, or domestic violence, among others. Fellows will spend a half day per week for six months with faculty in local private practice.

Didactic Training for Fellows

The didactic core curriculum provides robust instruction on forensic evaluations, criminal law, civil law, mental health law, correctional psychiatry, ethics, child and adolescent forensic psychiatry, neuroscience in forensic psychiatry, and introduction to forensic research.

One day a week is dedicated to shared didactics with other New York City–area forensic psychiatry fellows. In addition, there is a half-day of didactics exclusively for NYU Langone fellows which occurs every other Friday morning.

In addition to these weekly didactics, fellows will attend a mental health disability law class at NYU School of Law. They will also participate in multiple mock trials sessions alongside law students and other fellows. Finally, fellows will participate in an individual scholarly project with a goal of academic publication or presentation.

Fellowship Eligibility Requirements

Five fellowship positions are available for each academic year. All applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited general psychiatry residency before entering the program. All interested individuals are welcome to apply. Students from underrepresented backgrounds, including, but not limited to, those who identify as Black or African American, Latinx, Native American, Native Pacific Islander, or Native Alaskan, are encouraged to apply. We look for mature, motivated physicians who enjoy working with individuals in the public sector. When reviewing applications, we consider factors such as writing ability, research experience, leadership potential, adaptability, and career goals.

Fellowship Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and continue to be reviewed until all positions are filled. We start accepting application materials for the upcoming training year on May 1. NYU adheres to the application guidelines set forth by the Association of Directors of Forensic Psychiatry Fellowships (ADFPF), including the common application form and required documents, which can be accessed at ADFPF. Internal and external applicants follow the same application procedures and timelines.

We require a core application and three letters of reference.

NYU Langone Core Application

The core application includes the following items:

• ADFPF Common application form
• Curriculum Vitae
• Photo
• Personal statement about your interest and experience in forensic psychiatry, as well as your specific interest in our program (one single-spaced page)
• One de-identified clinical or forensic writing sample
• Copy of medical school diploma, current medical license and United States Medical Licensing Examination or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination

International applicants must also submit the following items:

• Valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate
• Proof of visa status or U.S. citizenship

Email all core materials as individual PDFs to Tanisha Young-Nuzzi, program manager, at Tanisha.Young-Nuzzi@NYULangone.org, and copy Dr. Mier at Catherine.Mier@NYULangone.org. The subject line of your email should be: Forensic Fellowship Application [APPLICANT LAST NAME, APPLICANT FIRST NAME].

Letters of Reference and Dean’s Letter

Please submit three letters of reference, one of which must be from your program director if you are currently a trainee or graduated from training within the last five years. If you have not been in training in the past five years, a training director letter is not required.

In addition, please submit an official medical school transcript and Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE, formerly known as a Dean’s Letter).

These letters should be emailed directly by their authors to Tanisha Young-Nuzzi. PDF format is preferred.

Interviews

Interviews begin in August as per ADFPF requirements. All application materials must be received before an interview offer is given. Interviews are currently being conducted virtually with a variety of faculty members and recent graduates. Opportunities to speak with current and recent fellows are also provided.

Offers

NYU strictly abides by the dates for making fellowship offers set forth by the ADFPF, which can be accessed here.

An offer of employment is not final until you are successfully credentialed by NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Office of Graduate Medical Education. Learn more about terms of employment and our graduate medical education policies and services.

NYU Langone does not offer H-1B visa sponsorship for house staff, residents, or fellows, but J-1 sponsorship is available through the ECFMG.

Contact Us

For questions about our fellowship or recruitment process, please email Dr. Mier at Catherine.Mier@NYULangone.org or Dr. Kushner at Danielle.Kushner@NYULangone.org.

For questions about the application process, please contact Tanisha Young-Nuzzi, program manager, at Tanisha.Young-Nuzzi@NYULangone.org.

If you would like to request an alumni verification for our Psychiatry Residency and Fellowship Programs, contact us at psycheduverifications@NYULangone.org. Alumni verifications are typically processed 7 to 10 business days from receipt of payment. Please send a check or money order, payable to NYU Grossman School of Medicine, for the $100 alumni verification fee to the following address:

NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry
One Park Avenue
Room 8-241 New York, NY 10016
Attn: Residency/Fellowship Verification