St Vincent’s Affiliating With UConn School Of Medicine

BRIDGEPORT — St Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and The University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UCSOM) in Farmington have announced a major academic affiliation agreement.

The affiliation agreement, effective immediately, was signed by Susan L Davis, RN, EdD, president/chief executive officer of St Vincent’s Medical Center, and Peter J Deckers, MD, executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

“This is an affiliation that offers major benefits to both parties,” said Dr Davis. “It provides us with world class academic resources and appointments to support excellent clinical programs and assist in the recruitment of physicians.”

Dr Deckers said the affiliation “provides UCSOM with a clinical venue in Fairfield County, a large group of committed, outstanding physicians in all specialties, and the ability to work within a tradition of established residency programs at St. Vincent’s.”

Jose Missri, MD, chief medical officer of St Vincent’s Medical Center, said UConn was selected for the affiliation after a lengthy search by St Vincent’s with medical schools interested in seeking an academic affiliation.

“After careful review, we felt the St Vincent’s-UConn academic affiliation meets the needs for both institutions in a way that will move us both forward and bring considerable benefits to the community,” said Dr Missri.

Under the agreement, both institutions will keep their existing residency programs. St Vincent’s residents, however, will be able to pursue elective rotations at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Likewise, UCSOM students will be assigned to ambulatory and inpatient programs in clinical areas at St Vincent’s, where they will be taught by the St Vincent’s physician faculty.

St Vincent’s will be entitled to appoint an assistant dean for medical education at UCSOM and St Vincent’s physicians will receive clinical appointments there. Both faculties will also be involved in continuing medical education (CME) training, with UCSOM medical school faculty assisting in CME programs and providing academic support for new postgraduate programs at St Vincent’s

Dr Missri said that in addition to helping to train new physicians and providing continuing medical education opportunities for the medical staff, the affiliation will enhance patient care by providing opportunities to participate in clinical trials and improving clinical programs.

“A hospital that has an academic affiliation is one that provides the highest quality care and latest treatment for patients. Teaching hospitals offer a higher level of care for individuals with constant new learning, outcomes measurements and programs to ensure best practices,” Dr Missri said.

St Vincent’s vice president Michael Herman, MD, said St Vincent’s has a longstanding tradition of providing residency programs in medicine, radiology, and surgery.

“The affiliation will continue to foster academic initiatives that will enhance our residency programs,” said Dr Herman. “The agreement also helps to keep the best and the brightest in Connecticut and provide opportunities for state residents to practice medicine in the community.”

Dr Herman said that under the agreement, UConn’s medical school will make its medical library available to St Vincent’s, which will establish the technology infrastructure to enable connectivity to the UConn databases.