Faculty Overview

The faculty of Law and Psychiatry comprise one of the nation’s premier forensic divisions. Deeply rooted in training, education, consultation and research, they are widely recognized as the top clinicians in their field. Perhaps the most enduring and prestigious role that Law and Psychiatry has played in the profession has been in defining the work and setting the standards for forensic psychiatry.

Leadership in the Division

The leadership in the division has been involved in major legislation and policy development. Much of this work comes through the professional organizations in medicine, psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. From the inception of the AAPL (American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law) in 1972, division faculty have been in leadership positions. The AAPL entered the Service and Specialty Society of the American Medical Association in 1997—with Drs. Phillips and Zonana as delegate and alternate delegate to the House of Delegates—when the organization was formally given a seat with voting privileges. The AAPL thereby gained a voice in developing the AMA’s ethics guidelines and new policies that affect the subspecialty.

Yale’s delegation has become an integral part of the Psychiatric Caucus (comprising the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child Psychiatry, Addictions and Geriatrics, and Military Psychiatry) that has shaped policies on the insanity defense, expert witnesses, interrogation of detainees by psychiatrists, and review of expert testimony.

• Psychiatry Fellowship
• Contributions of Past Fellows
• Continuing Education
• Yochelson Lectures