Resources

Fellows receive a stipend of $34,258, plus UMMS health and dental insurance benefits and professional liability insurance. In addition, the fellow may draw up to $2,000 from an account that provides for professional conference expenses, travel expenses to off-campus practicum sites, and research expenses such as books and supplies.

Office space is provided in the program's training offices located on the eighth floor of Worcester State Hospital, where fellows are provided desks and have ready access to many of the faculty of the Program. Computers for word processing as well as access to the internet and the on-line library databases are provided at fellows' work spaces. Reference needs are met by access to the UMMS medical school library; for legal research, all fellows have access to Lexis Nexis search services.

The Law-Psychiatry Program is itself a significant resource to fellows because of its many activities associated with public sector mental health services in Massachusetts. The program, under a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, is responsible for the continuing education and certification of all forensic mental health professionals who work in Massachusetts' inpatient and court clinic services.

The psychology fellowship is coordinated by Ira K. Packer, Ph.D. (Clinical Professor, UMMS; Director of Forensic Psychology Training) in conjunction with Thomas Grisso, Ph.D. (Professor, UMMS; Director, Law-Psychiatry Program), Paul Noroian, M.D. (Assistant Professor, UMMS; Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellow Program) and Albert Grudzinskas, J.D., (Clinical Associate Professor, UMMS; Coordinator of Legal Studies). In addition other faculty provide didactic training as well as opportunities for specialized rotations including Debra Pinals, M.D., Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Serivces, Department of Mental health. Carole Puleo and Dianne Williams provide administrative support. Other UMMS on-site and off-site faculty who contribute substantially to post-doctoral forensic training are listed at the end of this program description