Effective March 1, 2026, Waterbury Hospital has officially transitioned to UConn Health Waterbury Hospital as part of the UConn Health Community Network.
This transition follows months of planning and collaboration with state leaders and community partners to ensure the Waterbury community has access to award-winning care close to home.
“It is our privilege to welcome Waterbury Hospital into the UConn Health Community Network,” says Andrew Agwunobi, M.D., CEO of the UConn Health Community Network. “This represents a new era of high-quality care that will serve the Waterbury community and beyond for generations to come.”
The UConn Health Community Network is a not-for-profit entity that builds on the strengths of local communities while preserving local identity, enhancing care, and keeping care close to home.
“We are excited to welcome Waterbury Hospital to the UConn Health family and expand our award-winning care to the Naugatuck Valley,” says John Driscoll, chair of the UConn Health Board of Directors. “We would not have achieved this without the leadership of Governor Lamont and the support of our community partners in Waterbury, Hartford, and across the state. UConn Health Waterbury Hospital is a vital source of health care, and we are delighted to partner with their doctors and employees to serve the community.”
For more than a century, Waterbury Hospital has served as a trusted anchor for families across the region and as a vital part of the city’s identity. That legacy continues today, but now in partnership with UConn Health.
“Our physicians, nurses, and staff have built something meaningful that this community depends on,” says Deborah Weymouth, president of UConn Health Waterbury Hospital. “Over the past several months, we have worked closely with UConn Health to ensure a thoughtful transition centered on our patients and staff. Becoming part of the UConn Health Community Network allows us to move forward with confidence. Care remains local, and our commitment to Waterbury remains strong.”
“This hospital has always been central to our community, even through periods of uncertainty,” says Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. “Today, we move forward with the stability our community has needed and renewed confidence in the path ahead. This partnership gives our residents assurance that health care in Waterbury will remain strong, local, and supported for generations to come.”
Establishing the UConn Health Community Network
The UConn Health Community Network includes UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, UConn Health Community Network Medical Group, and UConn Health Waterbury Health at Home. The model is designed to grow thoughtfully over time as additional communities seek long-term stability and connection to academic expertise.
A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony with state and local leaders will take place the week of March 2 to commemorate the transition and introduce the broader vision of the UConn Health Community Network.
“Together, we are strengthening community-based care, starting here in Waterbury,” says Agwunobi. “By aligning local care with academic expertise, we are ensuring local healthcare is supported not just for today, but for generations to come.”
