Curriculum development in Liberia's first postgraduate psychiatry training programme

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry training
• Medical education
• Global mental health

Background:

• Liberia lacked a formal postgraduate psychiatry training program prior to 2019.
• The country had only two practicing psychiatrists in 2019.
• International collaboration was essential for program development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of Liberia's first psychiatry residency program.
• To explore the adaptation of international training models to a low-resource setting.
• To assess the impact of initial trainee knowledge on curriculum development.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum development for a postgraduate psychiatry program.
• Assessment of residents' baseline knowledge.
• Integration of neuroscience and neurology into training.
• Analysis of cultural differences in training approaches.

Main Results:

• Successfully launched Liberia's first psychiatry residency program in 2019.
• Initial trainee knowledge assessment informed immediate teaching priorities.
• Integrated neuroscience and neurology were key components of the curriculum.
• Cultural differences in training models were identified and addressed.

Conclusions:

• The program established a foundation for psychiatric training in Liberia.
• Adapting international models requires careful consideration of local context and resources.
• Ongoing assessment and collaboration are crucial for program sustainability and growth.