Danielle Watt, Ph.D.

Associate Director
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
Associate Director, Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) at UConn Health, where we are committed to providing access to health care related opportunities and to the recruitment and degree completion of our students in the health professions. Our Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative programs serve as a pathway to a well-trained, competitive applicant pool aimed at providing high quality and interculturally competent health care professionals. The HCOP department provides students, as early as middle school through to post-college, with the exposure to various health careers, hands-on clinical and biomedical research experience, and the support needed to be successful in their pursuit of medical related professions.

A key focus of the department is to foster a supportive and collaborative learning community that promotes respect and civility for HCOP participants and students enrolled in the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine and the Graduate Programs at UConn Health. We help facilitate this by providing mentorship opportunities for our faculty and students and assisting the local organizations of the Student National Dental Association/Hispanic Student Dental Association, the Student National Medical Association, and the Latino Medical Student Association.

As an alumnus of the HCOP College Student Summer Research Fellowship Program, I know first-hand the impact that these opportunities have on a student’s educational and career goals. Thus, I invite you to apply to be a part of our programming and look forward to encouraging the next generation of medical professionals and researchers as I was inspired as a student participant. Please contact us for additional information at 860-679-3483.