Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
Introduction
The Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Calgary is a 12 month clinical and academic fellowship for psychiatrists who have completed their core specialty training and wish to develop focused expertise in forensic psychiatry. The fellowship is intended for already credentialed psychiatrists with a license to practise in Alberta, including international fellows on appropriate sponsorship arrangements.
The fellowship is distinct from our Royal College accredited Forensic Psychiatry Subspecialty Residency Program. Fellows are not Royal College subspecialty trainees, but undertake supervised forensic clinical work across the same network of sites and benefit from the same educational program. For prospective applicants who are PGY5 or PGY6 residents in Canadian psychiatry programs and who are pursuing Royal College subspecialty certification in forensic psychiatry, the Subspecialty Program is the appropriate pathway.
Program description
The fellowship provides supervised experience across the spectrum of forensic psychiatry practice in southern Alberta. Available experiences include:
- Forensic inpatient assessments at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre (SAFPC), including pre trial, pre sentence, NCRMD, and dangerousness assessments.
- Forensic outpatient assessments through the Forensic Assessment and Outpatient Services (FAOS), and adolescent assessments through the Forensic Adolescent Psychiatry (FAP) Service.
- Forensic outreach experience at institutions and Community Recovery Homes for individuals found Not Criminally Responsible.
- Treatment of patients across the forensic settings above.
- Regular attendance in provincial court with the opportunity to give expert evidence.
- Exposure and participation in forensic psychiatric research projects, including international comparative work and collaborations with other Canadian forensic programs.
- Exposure to forensic psychiatric administration.
- Exposure to civil forensic psychiatric assessments.
- Didactic supervision and review of the core forensic psychiatric curriculum, including participation in the multi site weekly seminar series with the University of British Columbia, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Alberta, and the Alberta Crown's Office.
- Opportunity to arrange an elective, within the fellowship, to gain experience at another Canadian forensic program.
Educational sites
- Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre (SAFPC): Assessment and Treatment Units, including court ordered criminal assessments and consultation liaison.
- Forensic Assessment and Outpatient Services (FAOS): outpatient forensic mental health clinics including longitudinal Review Board care.
- Forensic Adolescent Psychiatry (FAP) Service: youth forensic treatment and assessment.
- Specialty teams: Family Violence and Sex Offender Treatment programs; three Community Recovery Homes for individuals found Not Criminally Responsible.
- Correctional sites: Calgary Correctional Centre, Calgary Remand Centre, and Calgary Young Offenders Centre.
- Rocky Mountain Sex Offender Program (Calgary Correctional Centre / FAOS).
- Mental Health Court.
- Elective opportunities including the Calgary Police and Crisis Teams, and electives at other Canadian forensic programs.
Key contacts
Dr. Oluyemisi Ajeh, Program Director
Email: oluyemisi.ajeh@ucalgary.ca
Phone: (403) 944 6815
Bernice Mina-Buna, Program Administrator
Email: bernice.minabuna@ucalgary.ca
Phone: (403) 955 2214
Current fellow
The fellowship is currently hosting an international forensic psychiatry fellow from the Philippines, completing a one year fellowship from December 2025 to November 2026. The fellowship supports continued professional development in forensic psychiatry within the Canadian system, and is part of a broader international collaboration the program is developing with forensic mental health services in the Philippines.