(Providence, RI) -- Care New England (CNE) and Rhode Island College (RIC) announce a groundbreaking partnership to strengthen Rhode Island’s healthcare technology workforce and accelerate innovation, advancing the state’s emerging digital health ecosystem. The collaboration will be anchored in the college’s School of Business, and it will eventually be housed within the same facility as RIC’s Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, which will integrate Care New England’s digital health capabilities.
At the core of the partnership is the development of a comprehensive healthcare technology workforce center aimed at creating a pipeline of highly skilled professionals in fast-growing fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital health. Through this effort, CNE will enhance RIC-specific programs and help design and deliver new clinical and healthcare management degree programs, professional certifications, and workshops that merge CNE's operational healthcare expertise with digital technology infrastructure to support RIC's academic strengths. The outcome will be a coordinated workforce pathway that prepares students and healthcare professionals for roles that address the workforce needs of Rhode Island's changing healthcare landscape.
“Care New England is proud to collaborate with RIC to develop a new generation of digitally fluent healthcare professionals,” said Tomas Gregorio, SVP and Chief Digital Information Officer, Care New England Health System. “As technology continues to redefine patient care, this initiative ensures Rhode Island will lead in cybersecurity, healthcare digital innovation, and data-driven clinical excellence.”
“This partnership represents a transformative collaboration between one of the state’s key healthcare providers and one of its top educators of healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College. “By combining Rhode Island College’s academic leadership with Care New England’s real-world clinical and technical expertise, we are building the workforce of the future and creating new opportunities for students, patients, and the state’s healthcare ecosystem.”
A major component of the collaboration includes the full integration of Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) training into RIC’s nursing and health sciences curricula. Care New England will provide access to an Epic academic license, enabling students to gain hands-on experience with the platform. This integration will be supported through guest lectures, simulation labs, and immersive case studies that expose students to real-world clinical workflows, patient data processes, and the digital tools to support modern healthcare delivery. By embedding Epic experience directly into coursework, RIC graduates will be better prepared to excel in today's increasingly technology-driven clinical environments.
This partnership will also create internship opportunities and a co-op pipeline for RIC students that can lead to full-time roles at CNE.
About Care New England
Care New England Health System is a trusted organization advancing the future of care through leading medical research, nationally recognized clinical services, and innovative programs. As one connected system, CNE attracts top, specially trained physicians and clinicians, fosters collaboration across disciplines, and leads meaningful conversations about health, wellness, and end-of-life care.
Founded in 1996, Care New England brings together a network of respected organizations working together to better serve patients and the community. The system includes Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Care New England Medical Group, VNA Home Health and Hospice, The Providence Center, and Integra, a certified accountable care organization (ACO). Care New England includes 749 licensed beds and 102 infant bassinets. Care New England is proud of its strong commitment to education and research, and through Butler, Kent, and Women & Infants Hospitals, maintains a teaching and research affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Kent is also a teaching affiliate of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.
About Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a regional comprehensive public college that serves approximately 6,500 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students through its five schools: The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Business, the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing and the School of Social Work. Established in 1854, it is Rhode Island’s first public institution of higher education.
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