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Hartford HealthCare/UConn School of Medicine renew, expand affiliation agreement to train more doctors

September 14, 2023

Hartford HealthCare and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine have renewed an agreement to train more doctors in “living classrooms” across the state in an effort to bolster the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.

In addition, the organizations announced at a press conference Thursday, Sept. 14 that they will expand the agreement to include more residency and fellowship positions for UConn students at Hartford HealthCare in medical specialties where there are provider shortages — including neurosurgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

“There is a shortage of physicians being trained across America but in Connecticut we have to reimagine, we have to disrupt ourselves, we have to think differently, and we have to act differently if we are going to successfully respond to the shortage and ensure that all Connecticut residents have access to world class healthcare here, locally and close to home,” said Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks.

UConn President Radenka Maric said her university and Hartford HealthCare must continue to leverage each other’s resources to ensure there are enough physicians in the healthcare workforce pipeline.

“Together we are producing the future physicians and surgeons,” said Dr. Bruce T. Liang, Interim Chief Executive Officer for UConn Health. “We are really creating a tremendous healthcare workforce.”

Numbers illustrate the story of the Hartford HealthCare/UConn School of Medicine affiliation:

• More than 600 residents and fellows participate in required clinical training at a Hartford HealthCare hospital or other care setting each year. In fact, almost every UConn School of Medicine student rotates through a Hartford HealthCare hospital or other care setting at some point in their training.
• The system provides 50% of the real-world clinical education required to train UConn’s doctors at all levels – medical student, resident and fellow.
• About half of the doctors trained through UConn and Hartford HealthCare are expected to stay and practice in Connecticut after completing their education.
• More than 400 Hartford HealthCare physicians hold faculty appointments at UConn.

The affiliation, which dates to the medical school’s founding 60 years ago, is just one educational connection Hartford HealthCare maintains to the university. There are also partnerships in place with the schools of nursing, pharmacy, engineering and other areas.

This week’s announcement is part of Hartford HealthCare’s efforts to create and strengthen training pipelines for various healthcare workers to meet the ever-changing needs of the community and address critical shortages in the field. Other examples include:

• Training students from Quinnipiac University’s Netter School of Medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
• Financing nursing scholarships at Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac universities.
• Creating a rural residency program for psychiatry and family medicine to bring care into more remote areas.
• Working with the state university system to create training and career pipeline programs.