Forensic Psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry in which mental health overlaps with the law.

The University of Ottawa's Division of Forensic Psychiatry is fully affiliated with the Integrated Forensic Program (IFP) of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and the Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR). It was campuses in Ottawa and Brockville and provides assessment and treatment to people with psychiatric disorders who have come into conflict with the law or who have the potential to do so. It is involved in local, national and international research collaborations and provides learning and research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in criminology, law, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and other allied mental health disciplines.

The University of Ottawa Division of Forensic Psychiatry is:

  • One of the first programs in Canada to offer a Royal College approved PGY-6 year in Forensic Psychiatry
  • Recipient of 2015, the Division's Sexual Behaviors Clinic (SBC) of the APA's Gold Awards as the best academic clinical-research program in North America
  • Actively involved in teaching, research and clinical care of youth, men and women with mental health problems involving fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility, anger, family court issues and the paraphilias.
  • Involved in the assessment and treatment of both out-patients and in-patients in Ottawa and Brockville
  • Created the first unit for mental health treatment of provincial offenders (Secure Treatment Unit) in Brockville
  • Involved in Ottawa's mental health court which aims to assist in diverting people with mental illness from prison to treatment aimed at preventing future crimes
A psychologist explaining an action plan for recovery to a troubled teenage boy during a therapy session.

Forensic residency training

Application process

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa is proud to offer an accredited Residency Training Program in Forensic Psychiatry.

The PGY6 Forensic Program does accept applications from internationally trained physicians, interested in applying to a residency or fellowship program at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. They are required to submit their application online through uOttawa Campus. Details on the application process are available on the PGME Website

Applicants

  • Must be eligible to write the RCPSC (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) examination in general psychiatry.
  • Must be eligible for an educational license through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
  • Must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.

An applicant who would meet the above requirements but who has completed medical school outside of North America will have a mandatory 5 year return of service within Ontario if accepted into a MOH (Ministry of Health) funded position.

The Forensic Psychiatry Residency Training Program has also the capacity to accommodate self-funded and other applicants for whom alternate sources of funding are available.

By Mail:

Dr. Floyd Wood
Program Director
Forensic Psychiatry Division
Residency Program Director
1145 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON
Canada, K1Z 7K4

By E-mail:
[email protected]

For more information, please refer to the Royal Ottawa website.

Please include the following:

  • A letter of Intent
  • Forensic Subspecialty Application Form (pdf, 402KB)
  • A Completed Record of Training
  • A Sample of Writing (such as a medico legal report or a consultation in the English language)
  • Two blind letters of reference to be sent to the Program Director/Program Assistant directly.
  • An updated C.V.
  • LMCC Part I and Part II Results
  • Copy of your ITERS from your General Psychiatry training, as one PDF document.

All 8 FP subspecialty programs also adhere to standard dates for applications and letters of offer. For the fall 2023 application cycle, the dates are as follows:

  • Application Deadline: September 1, 2023
  • Interview timeframe:  September - October 2023
  • Offers of acceptance will be sent: October 27, 2023

Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

All eligible applicants will have their files reviewed by the Residency Program Committee. A shortlist of applicants will be selected for interviews. The Residency Program committee will inform applicants of the results of the selection process.

All 8 FP subspecialty programs will be adhering to a standardized matching process, please click the following link for further details.

Canadian Forensic Psychiatry Residency Application And Matching Process 2023 (PDF, 187 KB)

Contact information for division head:

Dr. Brad Booth

The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Forensic Division
1145 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1Z 7K4

Email: [email protected]