History of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
Interest in forensic psychiatry began in the early 1950's, largely due to the influence of the first Chief Medical Officer of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore, Dr. Manfred S. Guttmacher. Guttmacher was a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and psychiatry residency program. Together with legislator Jerome Robinson they founded the Patuxent Institution which opened in 1955. Dr. Guttmacher promoted interest in psychiatry and the law by teaching a seminar at the University of Maryland Law School and through a lecture series for the University's psychiatry residents. One of those residents, Dr. Jonas R. Rappeport, went on to take Dr. Guttmacher's place as Chief Medical Officer following his untimely death in 1966.
Dr. Rappeport founded the forensic psychiatry fellowship through a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health in 1965. The fellowship has been affiliated with the University of Maryland since then, although funding is now administered through the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Jonas R. Rappeport, M.D., now Chief Medical Officer Emeritus, was the first director of the forensic psychiatry training program. Although retired, he continues to be an influential figure and an active supporter of the program.
About the Program
Fellowship graduates Christiane Tellefsen, M.D. and Jeffrey Janofsky, M.D. became co-directors for the program following Dr. Rappeport's retirement in 1992. Both Drs. Tellefsen and Janofsky are active in supervision and teaching at the Circuit Court Medical Service. Dr. Tellefsen also provides supervision at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center where fellows are responsible for in-depth pretrial evaluations and the treatment of incompetent criminal defendants.
The American Psychiatric Association officially recognized forensic psychiatry as a subspecialty, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology offers examinations for added qualifications in this field. The American Academy for Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) can provide more information regarding forensic psychiatry and the prerequisites for examination (see link below). The university's fellowship is accredited by the ACGME and offers fellows intense exposure to all aspects of forensic practice through participation in evaluations at the Circuit Court Medical Service and the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center. In addition, fellows attend courses at the University of Maryland School of Law and teach residents from the University and Johns Hopkins during their required forensic rotations.
Program Objectives
- To develop an understanding of criminal and civil law, legal systems and logic. To be able to use a law library, and be able to read court decisions, ferreting out the essential aspects of those decisions.
- To develop an appreciation for the overlay of legal issues into psychiatric cases, whether civil or criminal.
- To gain understanding of specific topics unique to forensic psychiatry such as malpractice, psychic damages, insanity defense, competency, informed consent, and civil commitment.
- To develop expertise in forensic evaluation and interviewing, and participation in legal proceedings.
- To have experience in the field of correctional psychiatry and sentencing issues.
- To understand the legislative process and its relevance to the practice of psychiatry.
- To develop forensic report writing skills.
- To pursue a scholarly or research project related to forensic topics.
- To develop expertise in lecturing, teaching and consulting.
Additional fellowship information available through this site:
- Tour of the fellowship training sites.
- Faculty information and publications.
- Applicant information.
- Go to the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law home page.
- About living in Baltimore: Baltimore on the Web.
For further information or an application form, e-mail: Christiane Tellefsen, M.D.
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