09/01/2024
Nuvance Health and Sacred Heart University (SHU) have entered into a strategic agreement focused on providing practical clinical experiences for students in Nuvance Health facilities within nursing, behavioral health, physical therapy/occupational therapy and other professions to bolster the healthcare workforce.
Nuvance Health and SHU are collaborating on the curriculum, education and training initiatives to ensure students are optimally prepared to care for the evolving health needs of the community. The comprehensive agreement consists of four distinct categories of collaboration: clinical placements, education and training, philanthropy and scholarships, and career services.
“Our workforce strategy involves finding and growing great talent by working with strategic partners and developing creative solutions to launch careers. Sacred Heart University has been a great partner, and we are excited to expand our relationship to deepen our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Katie Cullinan, chief human resources officer at Nuvance Health.
Last summer, Nuvance Health and SHU delivered the first year of a nursing immersion program, bringing local high school students living in Norwalk and Bridgeport to Norwalk Hospital to gain hands-on knowledge about careers in nursing.
“With the summer program for high school students, we are already seeing the impact of the expanded collaboration between our two organizations,” SHU President John J. Petillo said. “Bringing our resources together in this way will positively impact the need for healthcare options in the state. I am excited to see what we will do together.”
Dyan Sommerville, of Norwalk, participated both as a camper and camp counselor at the Nuvance Health and SHU summer nursing immersion program.
"This program was the final factor that influenced me to pursue a career in nursing. I have made amazing friends along the way and have developed some key relationships that are supporting me in my college studies," Sommerville said.
“We are delighted about the opportunity to expand our partnership with Nuvance Health,” SHU Provost Robin Cautin said. “It is a collaboration that will benefit both organizations as our students will have more options for clinical rotations and will be prepared to use their hands-on experience to fulfill the needs of Nuvance Health and other medical facilities around the state.”
Nuvance Health and SHU are also working to jointly develop scholarships for underrepresented high school students to attend the university and make stronger connections between students and employment opportunities at Nuvance Health’s seven hospital campuses and over 100 medical practices and ambulatory sites.
“The Sacred Heart University partnership will serve as a model for Nuvance Health as we formalize a network of two-year and four-year academic partners across New York and Connecticut, as well as expanding the work already underway with community agencies focused on preparing and enabling the local workforce,” Cullinan said.
The goal is to establish a fund of $1 million from which $50,000 will be drawn each year, providing 10 $5,000 scholarships to candidates. Five scholarships would be dedicated to the study of nursing, and five others would be dedicated to non-nursing healthcare professions.
SHU will also provide preferred partner status for career services events, job fairs, postings and other programs that connect its students to Nuvance Health as a potential employer. Preferred partner status will include direct access to the appropriate job posting databases and optimal table location at events.