Expanding the Pipeline: The New York University School of Medicine–University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry Psychiatric Education Initiative

Abstract

:As many low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs), Ghana is affected by a severe shortage of mental health specialists: there are 11 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 25 million. The pipeline for Ghanaian psychiatrists remains restricted for the foreseeable future given the low expressed interest in the field by junior medical trainees. The few senior psychiatric specialists are overextended with clinical and professional duties leaving them with minimal time to teach and mentor trainees. This limits opportunities for mentorship, modeling, teaching, and curricular development, leaving trainees with little exposure to psychiatric practice, and therefore, little motivation to enter a highly stigmatized and underresourced field. To support the training of Ghanaian medical students in psychiatry, the New York University School of Medicine–University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry (NYUSOM-UGSMD) Psychiatric Education Initiative, and the NYU Global Mental Health Elective were formed (1) to provide educational support to medical students and residents at UGSMD and (2) to provide a sustainable international experience for NYUSOM residents with a strong interest in leadership in global mental health and underserved populations.