Press Release:

April 14, 2009

222 South Warren Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
Contact: Ellen Lovejoy
609-292-3703

DMHS links with 2 noted universities to develop workforce
Forensic specialists fellowship will benefit psychiatric hospitals

 

TRENTON – The Division of Mental Health Services is partnering with two distinguished universities to develop a fellowship program for training forensic psychiatry fellows and developing the state hospital workforce's ability to work with forensic patients, Acting DMHS Commissioner Jon Poag announced today.

As part of a continuing effort to increase professional workforce development, DMHS is working with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School to advance a fellowship program in forensic psychiatry.

“These fellowship programs are an important part of our long-term workforce development,” Poag said. “Our affiliation with both universities enriches our program and strengthens our service to consumers by providing crucial training to psychiatrists.”

Two fellows in forensic psychiatry at UMDNJ and two from the University of Pennsylvania will be rotating work schedules at Ann Klein Forensic Center and Trenton Psychiatric Hospital in Ewing Township . They also will be receiving specialty training in some New York City forensic centers.

“The forensic fellows that we help instruct will make excellent candidates for employment in our hospital system upon completing their fellowships and will serve as valuable academic resources at each of their institutions,” Poag said. The fellows training also will help them evaluate patients' competency in criminal cases.

UMDNJ is expected to start participating in the fellowship program in July.

The fellowship program will not cost the DMHS because the participants' stipends are paid by the universities.