Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome to the USC/LA General Medical Center Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. Established in 1965 by Dr. Seymour Pollack, our program is among the oldest in the nation and helped lay the foundation for modern forensic psychiatry. As we continue this legacy, we remain committed to advancing excellence, innovation, and leadership in the education and training of the next generation of forensic psychiatrists.
Dr. Talene Keshishian
Fellowship Program Director
About the Fellowship
Our ACGME-accredited, full-time, one-year fellowship program is comprised of lectures, seminars, first-hand experience, and expert supervision from psychiatrists board-certified in forensic psychiatry, as well as forensic psychologists. From day one, forensic psychiatry fellows are directly involved with hospitals, county jails, juvenile justice agencies, dependency courts, the Los Angeles County Mental Health Court – and other agencies in which mental health and the law are intertwined. In addition, forensic psychiatry fellows have numerous opportunities to serve as expert witnesses for superior courts, mental health courts, and other local and state government agencies.
Mission Statement
Our fellowship program prepares psychiatrists to serve as an integral part of the justice system by addressing legal issues involving mental health. Founded by Seymour Pollack in 1965, the USC/LA General Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship has always been a pioneer in its field and remains at the forefront of forensic psychiatric education through innovation and unparalleled expertise.
Curriculum Highlights
Forensic psychiatry fellows are regularly assigned cases for which they provide their forensic psychiatric opinion in the form of a written report. These cases involve psychiatric-legal issues for the criminal, dependency, juvenile and mental health courts, as well as various administrative hearings. Forensic fellows also regularly testify for civil commitment and conservatorship hearings with supervision from experienced faculty members.
Our unique geographic location and partnerships offer an extremely diverse setting for optimizing clinical, educational and research activities. Placement is primarily based at the Los Angeles General Medical Center, which houses the Psychiatric Emergency Service, Consultation-Liaison Service and Psychiatric Inpatient Unit. Our close partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services provides unique opportunities for understanding the delivery of mental healthcare to underserved patients in the Los Angeles County jail system. Forensic psychiatry fellows serve as consultants to the county Mental Health Court on a daily basis. Forensic psychiatry fellows also serve as consultants to various other agencies, such as the L.A. Public Defender’s Office and L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
Our fellows benefit from didactic courses that are second-to-none, offering education from expert faculty, including forensic psychiatrists and psychologists, judges, public and private attorneys, and professionals from other forensic-related disciplines. Courses specifically designed for forensic psychiatry fellows include:
- Biological, psychological, and sociological determinants of crime and delinquency
- Civil law
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Federal criminal law
- Juvenile & Dependency law
- Mental health law
- Correctional psychiatry
- Biases applicable to forensic assessments
- Landmark mental health cases (including all AAPL-specified cases)
Fellows work closely with faculty on multiple scholarly projects, including presentations and submissions for national professional meetings and publications. Each year, fellows author and submit an abstract to AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences) and complete a legal digest that is published in an AAPL (American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law) journal.
Faculty and Lecturers
Talene Keshishian, MD
Program Director
Lorraine Cuadra, PhD
Chief Psychologist
- 20+ forensic psychiatrists
- 10+ forensic psychologists
- 10+ judges and attorneys
Salary and Benefits
Fellows are employees of the County of Los Angeles.
PGY5 Yearly Salary as of October 1, 2024 : $90,019
Benefits
| Bonus | $10,000 per fellow for housing purposes, paid during the first pay period of employment |
| Meals | $27 per day at Los Angeles General Medical Center; meals are reimbursed during off-campus rotations ($15 for lunch at facilities without a cafeteria). |
| Educational Stipend | Up to $2,500 to use for qualifying educational expenses. |
| Parking | Provided at no cost at Los Angeles General Medical Center and other placements. |
| White coats | Provided |
| Vacation | 24 days paid vacation each year |
| Sick leave | 8 days per year, of which 3 may be used for personal leave |
| Professional liability insurance | Provided by the County of Los Angeles |
| Maternity/Paternity leave | Available in accordance with Federal and State Law |
| Medical/dental benefits | Choice of several offered plans; family coverage available at additional cost |
| Life insurance | Additional insurance up to 8x annual salary may be purchased with benefits allowance |
For more information about salary, benefits, and the contract between the County and CIR, visit CIR’s website.
Life in Los Angeles
Life in Los Angeles offers a vibrant blend of culture, creativity, and opportunity. With year-round sunshine, diverse neighborhoods, and endless entertainment options, the city provides an inspiring backdrop for both work and play. Whether you’re drawn to the beach, the arts, or innovation, L.A. has something for everyone.
How to Apply
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) will be used for the forensic psychiatry fellow selection process for the 2026-2027 Academic Year.
Important Dates:
- July 2, 2025 – Applications are open for forensic psychiatry fellowships via ERAS.
- July 16, 2025 – Forensic psychiatry fellowship programs begin to review applications and can begin to interview applicants. Please note, we request a recent writing sample (e.g., admission summary, discharge summary, forensic case report, etc.) be emailed directly to Mary Goodbeer, Program Coordinator, at goodbeer@usc.edu.
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residencies-eras/applying-residencies-eras-system
Our forensic psychiatry fellowship program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP aka “The Match”) for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. Our program will not make fellowship offers to applicants outside of The Match, except in the event of attempting to fill an unfilled position after Match Day.
Important Dates:
- August 6, 2025 – Match Registration opens.
- September 3, 2025 – Ranking opens.
- October 8, 2025 – Rank Order List Certification deadline.
- October 22, 2025 – Match Day. Unfilled/Unmatched Lists available.
For additional program information or questions regarding applications, please contact:
- Talene Keshishian, MD
Program Director
(323) 409-4942
tkeshishian@dhs.lacounty.gov - Mary Goodbeer
Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 86125
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0125
(323) 409-4942
goodbeer@usc.edu