Nurse Practitioner and PA students at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford will benefit from the collaborative agreement with Southern New England Heathcare Organization.

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Southern New England Healthcare Organization (SoNE HEALTH) and the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) are building on an academic affiliation agreement established in fall 2025, with USJ Nurse Practitioner and PA students now participating in clinical rotations at participating SoNE HEALTH practices.Through the agreement, qualified USJ students have access to supervised clinical rotations and other field-based learning experiences within participating SoNE HEALTH practices and departments. These placements allow students to apply classroom learning in real-world care settings while working alongside experienced clinicians and gaining a deeper understanding of patient-centered, coordinated care.

The collaboration currently supports clinical experiences for students in USJ’s Nurse Practitioner and PA programs, with students participating in rotations at SoNE HEALTH practices in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The partnership has the potential to expand to other health-profession disciplines. It reflects the organizations’ shared commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and strengthening the healthcare workforce.

USJ Students have completed clinical rotations at Personal Primary Care and Weight Management LLC, REVIVE Center for Health & Wellness, PLLC, and Healing Pulse Medical.

“We believe that part of a medical professional’s career should be educating students who will become future colleagues. All who have learned from mentors become mentors; students become teachers,” said Dr. Uberti, MD, Chief Medical Officer at SoNE HEALTH. “This collaboration is increasingly important given the shortage of providers, in particular primary care providers, in Connecticut and Massachusetts. We are proud to work with the University of Saint Joseph to provide meaningful clinical experiences that help students build their skills, gain confidence, and understand the importance of compassionate, coordinated patient care.”

USJ students participating in the Nurse Practitioner program, which includes Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks, have opportunities to complete semester-based clinical rotations in participating practices. Students may complete rotations with a physician, osteopathic physician, or independently practicing advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as their preceptors.

The PA Program includes nine clinical rotations, each lasting approximately 5 weeks. Core rotations include Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine.

Other potential educational opportunities include those pursuing degrees such as:

• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Dietetics/Registered Dietitian (RD)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Additional programs and disciplines offered by the University of Saint Joseph

“At the University of Saint Joseph, we prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed as healthcare professionals, and high-quality clinical experiences are an important part of that education,” said Michelle Kalis, Ph.D., USJ Provost. “Our partnership with SoNE HEALTH provides valuable opportunities for our students to apply that preparation in clinical settings, and we look forward to continuing to grow the collaboration.”

“SoNE HEALTH participating practice Personal Primary Care is proud to partner with USJ to help precept and mentor the next generation of providers, to provide patient-centered care,” said Talah Khan, MD.

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