Kari Beth Law

Kari Beth Law is an Associate Professor and Director of Telepsychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry. As a dual-certified psychiatrist (Child/Adolescent & Forensic Psychiatry) and active clinical faculty member, her work focuses on expanding mental health access in rural communities through telehealth innovations.

• Education: MD from West Virginia University (2005), Residency in General Psychiatry (2008), Fellowships in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry (2010) and Forensic Psychiatry (2011) at Medical University of South Carolina.

Her research spans telehealth implementation, behavioral health disparities, and forensic psychiatry, with recent studies examining treatment modality comparisons, digital mental health outcomes, and opioid-related family impacts. Key contributions appear in journals like Telemed J E Health, Frontiers in Psychology, and JMIR Mental Health.

Scientific work emphasizes:

• Telepsychiatry efficacy vs. in-person care
• Mental health access in rural Appalachia
• Forensic telemental health standards
• Pandemic-driven digital care transitions
• Substance use disorder screening

She maintains board certifications from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry. Clinical leadership includes directing telepsychiatry programs and contributing to policy discussions on mental health service delivery.