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Faculty

Ashley VanDercar

MD, JD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
(see above)

Ashley VanDercar, MD, JD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Associate Program Director for the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University. In that capacity, she is actively involved in educating and supervising medical students, psychiatry residents, and forensic psychiatry fellows.

Dr. VanDercar began her professional career as an attorney, working in the healthcare field. In 2012, she enrolled in medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. After obtaining her medical degree, she completed an adult psychiatry residency and forensic psychiatry fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She is board certified in adult and forensic psychiatry.

Dr. VanDercar’s scholarly work spans a range of forensic subjects, including the insanity defense, school shootings, and terrorism. She has published and presented nationally on topics ranging from psychiatric malpractice to mental illness in cult leaders. She also lectures for the Cleveland Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Training and co-teaches a semester-long course at the University of Akron School of Law.

2026 Sessions

When Symptoms Are Questioned: Assessing Malingering and Factitious Disorders

Assessing the authenticity of psychiatric symptoms can be challenging, particularly in contexts involving legal charges, disability claims, or mandated treatment. This session outlines evidence-based tools and clinical interviewing strategies to differentiate genuine illness from feigned or exaggerated presentations. Faculty will also address ethical considerations, documentation techniques, and risk mitigation strategies when malingering is suspected. Participants will learn how to balance skepticism with compassion while ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

Speaker

Tuesday, September 15 6:30–7:30 PM
Room 211-213
Forensic Psychiatry
Faculty

Ashley VanDercar

MD, JD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
(see above)

Ashley VanDercar, MD, JD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Associate Program Director for the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University. In that capacity, she is actively involved in educating and supervising medical students, psychiatry residents, and forensic psychiatry fellows.

Dr. VanDercar began her professional career as an attorney, working in the healthcare field. In 2012, she enrolled in medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. After obtaining her medical degree, she completed an adult psychiatry residency and forensic psychiatry fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She is board certified in adult and forensic psychiatry.

Dr. VanDercar’s scholarly work spans a range of forensic subjects, including the insanity defense, school shootings, and terrorism. She has published and presented nationally on topics ranging from psychiatric malpractice to mental illness in cult leaders. She also lectures for the Cleveland Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Training and co-teaches a semester-long course at the University of Akron School of Law.
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