Stephanie M. Ficarro, PsyD
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Forensic psychology, clinical psychology, adult psychology, child and adolescent psychology Research Interests: Violence and aggressive behavior, personality assessment, adjudicative competence, substance use and addictions
Professional Summary
My professional training and career as a psychologist thus far has largely focused on forensic psychology and working with justice-involved populations. The majority of my current direct clinical work takes place in both the adult and juvenile county correctional systems within the Western New York area. My time is generally spent between the Erie County Forensic Mental Health Service, the Erie County Holding Center, the Erie County Correctional Facility, and the Erie County Youth Services Center. My clinical work involves conducting court-ordered mental health evaluations and Article 730 competency evaluations, as well as other evaluations requested from the courts and criminal justice system. In the adult facilities, I complete clinical rounds on the constant observation units and work directly with clinical staff to provide comprehensive care to incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness. At the Youth Services Center, I provide both individual and group treatment services to a population that is comprised primarily of justice-involved adolescents. I also conduct psychological assessments with incarcerated youth and adults and track clinical outcomes over time. Along with my colleagues in the Forensic Division, I conduct research using this information on an ongoing basis to better understand these populations, as well as the efficacy of treatment interventions utilized in forensic settings. Additionally, I provide expert consultation services pertaining to psychological issues to various parties in the legal system, including attorneys and the courts.
My administrative duties include serving as the Director of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for Psychiatry and the Coordinator of Continuing Education for Psychology. In these roles, I oversee and work closely with the CME Committee to develop the ongoing continuing education curricula and events offered by the Department of Psychiatry, including weekly Psychiatry Grand Rounds and the Annual Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry Conference. Additionally, as an educator, an extremely rewarding aspect of my work is providing clinical supervision and mentorship to undergraduate and graduate level psychology students, medical students, psychiatry residents, and psychiatry fellows.
Education and Training
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Central New York Psychiatric Center
- Doctor of Clinical Psychology Psy.D., Medaille University
- Doctoral Internship, Central New York Psychiatric Center
- Master of Arts, Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Legal Studies, State University of New York at Fredonia
Personal Statement
Being native to the Western New York area, I enjoy experiencing all that the Buffalo community has to offer, including the incredible food culture and local sporting events (Go Bills!). Outside of work, I also greatly value spending time with my husband and family. I’m an avid animal lover and am currently working with my two pet basset hounds toward becoming certified therapy dogs. In my free time, some of my favorite hobbies include spending time outdoors, reading, and attempting to bake.