This month, the UConn School of Law’s Health Equity Clinic received the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools from Insight Into Academia magazine, the nation’s longest-running publication advancing best practices in higher education.
The Health Equity Clinic is an interdisciplinary partnership with Hartford HealthCare’s Hartford Hospital that addresses the legal factors that shape health outcomes. As central Connecticut’s first adult-focused medical-legal partnership of its kind, the clinic places law students in a clinical environment, where they work alongside physicians, social workers, and other providers to identify and respond to patients’ health-harming legal needs. These needs, such as unsafe housing conditions, denial of public benefits, or workplace discrimination tied to medical conditions or disability, often fall outside the scope of traditional medical care but have a profound impact on patient health.
The clinic, led by director and visiting assistant clinical professor Jay Sicklick, integrates education and advocacy, training law students in client representation and the social determinants of health while helping medical professionals recognize when legal intervention may be necessary. Students take cases and referrals from Hartford Hospital clinical personnel, from intake through resolution, and contribute to broader policy efforts.
“The Health Equity Clinic challenges students to think differently about the role of lawyers in addressing complex problems,” says UConn Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “By working alongside healthcare providers, they see how legal issues are often embedded in broader health concerns and how legal advocacy can play a role in improving outcomes. We’re very proud to see this impactful work recognized.”
Since its founding in 2024, 17 students have participated in the clinic, opening 94 cases and providing nearly 100 consultations to healthcare professionals. In total, 68 cases resulted in representation and required approximately 3,000 hours of student work.
“This recognition affirms something we see every day: health is shaped by far more
than what happens in a doctor’s office or hospital room,” says Dr. Nina Dutta, Chair and Chief of Medicine at Hartford Hospital. “Legal barriers such as housing instability, access to benefits, employment challenges and discrimination can have a profound impact on a person’s health and well-being. The Health Equity Clinic is helping us address those root causes by bringing together healthcare and legal expertise in a way that is innovative, practical, and deeply meaningful for the patients and communities we serve.”
“The Health Equity Clinic demonstrates the power of partnership to improve lives,” says David Mack, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Hartford HealthCare. “By integrating legal advocacy into the care environment, we are helping address challenges that often stand in the way of better health outcomes. We are proud to collaborate with UConn School of Law on a program that is preparing the next generation of legal professionals while creating lasting impact for patients, families, and our community. This national recognition reflects the vision, dedication, and innovation that have made the clinic such a success.”
About Hartford HealthCare
Hartford HealthCare is a not-for-profit healthcare system driven by a mission to improve the health and well-being of every community.
With 48,000 dedicated colleagues and a bold vision for the future, Hartford HealthCare is transforming healthcare across Connecticut and beyond, expanding access, improving affordability, advancing health equity, and delivering excellence in care.
