About Us
UVA Mental Health Policy & Practices is an interdisciplinary collaboration in mental health policy, law, and public health. Faculty and staff from the UVA Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy and the Department of Public Health Sciences compose a core group who study a range of topics related to mental health policy and related public health topics, such as suicide prevention.
It is supported by the School of Medicine and a contract with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. And it collaborates with many stakeholders, such as the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
UVA Mental Health Policy & Practices is part of The Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy (ILPPP) at the University of Virginia. The ILPPP is an interdisciplinary program in mental health law, forensic psychiatry, forensic psychology, forensic neuropsychology, and forensic social work. Institute activities include academic programs, forensic clinical evaluations, professional training, empirical and theoretical research, and public policy consultation and review.
Faculty
Daniel C. Murrie, Director, Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, is a Professor in the UVA Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. He oversees the UVA Forensic Clinic within ILPPP, the UVA postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology, and ILPPP’s state-university partnership to provide training programs in forensic evaluation. As a clinician, Dr. Murrie performs forensic evaluations in criminal and civil cases through the ILPPP’s Forensic Clinic, with an emphasis on capital cases. As a scholar, Dr. Murrie’s research and teaching address a variety of topics in forensic assessment, with a primary program of research addressing bias and quality control in forensic mental health evaluations. He also works nationally with several states to improve forensic mental health service systems.
Heather Zelle, J.D., Ph.D., Associate Director of Mental Health Policy Research, Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, is an Associate Professor of Research in the School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences. She is licensed as an attorney in Pennsylvania (voluntary inactive status) and as a clinical psychologist in Virginia. Her research and policy interests include capacity to make healthcare decisions, as well as criminal legal decisions such as waiving Miranda rights, civil commitment policy and practices, and legal system interactions with people with mental illnesses. Dr. Zelle conducts clinical work infrequently, but remains interested in forensic assessments examining psycholegal issues such as capacity to waive Miranda rights. | CV
Richard J. Bonnie, Director Emeritus, Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, is a Harrison Foundation Professor of Law and Medicine, Professor of Public Policy, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, and Director Emeritus of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. He teaches and writes about health law and policy, bioethics, criminal law, and public policies relating to mental health, substance abuse, and public health.
Affiliates
Tanya Wanchek, J.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Dr. Wanchek teaches Health Care Economics and Health Policy from and Economic Perspective to both graduate and undergraduate students. Her research focuses on the analysis of the dental labor force, oral health outcomes, mental health policy, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
John Oliver, Esq., served in the Chesapeake City Attorney’s office for 31 years, as an Assistant and then Deputy City Attorney. His work there included behavioral health and social services law. Mr. Oliver works with the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy on several mental health law and service reform initiatives and in the publication of the Institute’s journal, Developments in Mental Health Law.
Students
Our students are primarily involved through The Lab. For more information on the The Lab, our projects, and current students, please see the appropriate tab above.
Graduate Research Assistants are an enthusiastic group of graduate students, primarily from the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia, with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing research in mental health policy. Many go on to complete their Integrated Learning Experience with the ILPPP using the data and infrastructure available to graduate students affiliated with the ILPPP.
Undergraduate Research Assistants are a diverse group of undergraduate students from the University of Virginia with strong academic records and interest in mental health policy and practice.
Past Faculty & Staff
Edward Strickler, Jr., MA, MA, MPH, CHES, served for more than 15 years as Programs Coordinator involved in every aspect of Institute-sponsored training programs, symposiums, and conferences; as Managing Editor of Developments in Mental Health Law; and in other support of the mission of the Institute. His service helped to sustain and expand the translational enterprise of the Institute into its fourth decade as a national flagship in forensic mental health.