Charles L. Scott, MD: music, military, and medicine.

There are rare instances for each of us when we meet someone who dramatically changes the course of our lives. For me, this occurred as a third-year resident in Seattle, Washington, in 2008. After hearing Charles Scott lecture at the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) Forensic Psychiatry Board Review Course, it became clear to me that I had to train with him. Dr. Scott’s presentations intrigued me over the three days. I found myself drawn to his lectures, regardless of the subject. He presented on topics including correctional mental health, the death penalty, sexual offenders, juvenile rights, child custody, child abuse, child witness testimony, right to treatment, and psychiatric disability. For each lecture, he masterfully wove together the current medical literature and case law with timely pop culture references. His presentations were as entertaining as they were informative. He presented information with a combination of substance and entertainment that made the topics come alive. I first met Dr. Scott in person at a reception at the Forensic Review Course. I nervously introduced myself and presented my longstanding interest in forensic psychiatry. In just a few minutes, he elicited my entire educational background through casual conversation. Later that week, I met other faculty members affiliated with the program. From that point forward, I knew that the University of California, Davis (UC-Davis) was where I wanted to train. I was so sure that UC-Davis was the right situation for me that I even considered offering to attend the program for free, if necessary. Fortunately, I did not have to face that decision. Shortly after my interview, Dr. Scott offered me a fellowship position for the next year. The following July, I entered my fellowship with excitement and high expectations. To my surprise, the experience not only met my expectations, it far exceeded them. Although the year was rigorous, I enjoyed every day of it and learned more than I could have ever imagined. He goes to considerable lengths Dr. Newman is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Training Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of CaliforniaDavis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Address correspondence to: William J. Newman, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California-Davis School of Medicine, 2230 Stockton Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95817. E-mail: [email protected].