HAMDEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Hartford HealthCare and Quinnipiac University are establishing a new partnership that aims to advance healthcare education while strengthening Connecticut's workforce pipeline with a $5 million commitment.
President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks announced that Hartford HealthCare (HHC) will be investing $1 million to the university each year for the next five years.
“This creative partnership will make a difference for the workforce ahead as we create new training and educational vehicles for colleagues and build an essential pipeline to many rewarding careers, beyond healthcare, right here in Connecticut," Flaks said.
Under the new partnership, HHC will be enhancing Quinnipiac University's medical education, college-to-career opportunities and student health services, Quinnipiac President Judy Olian said.
In terms of medical instruction, the goal, according to Olian, is to redefine healthcare education with expanded learning experiences.
For example, HHC will significantly expand the number of clinical rotations for students and the size of the university's nursing, health sciences and graduate medical education programs, Olian explained, among other efforts.
The healthcare system will also collaborate with the school to build upon its post-graduation career opportunities in an effort to alleviate current and future workforce shortages in the state.
HHC will be creating internship, research, capstone and other career-related opportunities for undergraduate and graduate programs across the university's eight professional schools and the College of Arts and Sciences, Olian said.
Quinnipiac's School of Business is creating a leadership development program to encourage upskilling and lifelong learning among HHC's leaders and similar opportunities will be available for HHC employees.
Also, all HHC employees and dependents will be eligible for a tuition discount at Quinnipiac, university officials said.
Starting this summer, HHC and Quinnipiac will be improving on-campus health and wellness services as part of the partnership through HHC's Campus Care program, officials said. That includes physical and mental health-related care for students and athletic training for Division I athletes.
“Our far-reaching collaboration will significantly enhance healthcare education both inside and outside the classroom, as well as the training and job opportunities available to Quinnipiac students all across the university," Olian said.