On March 17, 2025 Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the Cheikh Anta DIOP University of Dakar (UCAD), Senegal notarized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to intensify the existing collaborative relationship between the two institutions and collaborate in supporting and developing academic and cultural interchanges through mutual assistance in the areas of psychiatric education and research. UCAD is one of the largest universities in French-speaking Africa with a mission are to train high-level, scientifically and technically qualified personnel to develop research in all disciplines of Science, Technology and Culture. 

The GLCMHD will continue to work in collaboration with the UCAD with the definitive goal of supporting clinical and research training. The Center will support travel of BMC faculty to Senegal for periodic teaching and training purposes. We will utilize video conferencing for psychiatric clinical and research education and training and facilitate access to journals and other specialty specific international publications to enhance training. Further, the Center will work to facilitate further collaborations between African colleagues and will provide support and mentorship in research program development on existing and future research projects and grants. 

In October 2023, the GLCMHD hosted Dr. Racky Wade, an assistant professor in anatomy with a clinical option in psychiatry at the UCAD Senegal, in a scholarly faculty visit to Boston to exchange knowledge and expertise with faculty and trainees at the Department of Psychiatry and form new bidirectional partnerships for clinical research and training between UCAD and BMC. Dr. Wade expressed gratitude to those at the Department of Psychiatry for enriching exchanges and warm welcome during her stay. She spoke of wanting to incorporate elements of the BMC Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) Program in her practice and to propose a similar program to other faculty members in Dakar. We look forward to planning and continuing to promote institutional exchanges between the UCAD and the GLCMHD by inviting staff and trainees to build future collaborations in teaching, trainee and faculty development, and research.