PROVIDENCE – A new affiliation agreement between Brown University and Care New England will strengthen ties between the Alpert Medical School and Women & Infants and Butler hospitals, Brown officials announced on June 18.
The new agreement, signed on June 13 by Dennis D. Keefe, president and CEO of Care New England, and Dr. Edward Wing, dean of medicine an biological sciences at Brown, will increase strategic planning between the two institutions. The new agreement will take effect on July 1; it replaces separate agreements between the individual hospitals and the medical school.
Nearly 280 Alpert Medical School faculty members are based at either Women & Infants Hospital, designated in the agreement as “the major affiliated teaching hospital for activities unique to women and newborns,” or Butler Hospital, designated as “the major affiliated teaching hospital for psychiatry and behavioral health.”
“One of the bright spots on Rhode Island’s economic development horizon is the knowledge economy,” said Keefe. “This new agreement between Brown and the Care New England Health System assures our community that our organizations will continue in a strong partnership to advance research, medical education, and health care on behalf of women, newborn children, and those afflicted with brain or behavioral disorders.”
The relationship between Brown and Butler and Women & Infants will lead to growth in research and education, according to Wing. “We are fortunate to have outstanding specialty clinical partners in the health of women and newborns and psychiatry and behavioral health,” he said.
Under the terms of the agreement Care New England will provide additional financial support for academic programs within the school.
The Corporation of Brown University approved the agreement at its May meeting. Care New England’s board approved it in April.
