Kerrville State Hospital (KSH) recently became one of the rotation sites for the forensic psychiatry residency program at the Health Science Center. The fellowship involves one year of additional training for sub-specialization in the forensic psychiatry field.
Each fellow will spend three days per week at KSH for six months and will be a part of a KSH team that is responsible for caring for patients. In addition, the fellows will learn specialized assessments necessary for evaluating patients who are returning to court for competency and recommitment hearings.
“We are looking forward to this state-university collaboration for patient care, patient evaluation, and staff and fellow education,” said Joel Silberberg, M.D., program director and associate professor of psychiatry at the Health Science Center.
Participants in the program include two fellows for the inaugural year of the fellowship (July 2005 – July 2006): Daniel Feeney, M.D., and Victoria Trickett, M.D. Hilda Cheatum, administrative assistant, is the program coordinator.
“Kerrville State Hospital is pleased to be able to participate in this fellowship program,” said Janet True, M.D., KSH clinical director. “We are very proud of the quality of the care given at KSH and I think our setting will provide a unique clinical experience. We also welcome the association with the university as an opportunity for us to learn, as well.”
Through class work and clinical rotations, fellows in the program will gain full understanding of the various types of commitments in the mental health system, as well as the issues of security and safety of individuals in the facility and surrounding community. Fellows will learn how forensic patients in the mental health system fit into the overall provision of health care for indigent psychiatric patients in Texas.
“I think both the Medical School and KSH will gain from this partnership,” said Dr. True. “KSH will offer a different set of experiences and opportunities than other rotation sites and the students will challenge KSH staff to become better teachers and mentors.”
