Living in Connecticut

Middletown CT

Middletown is a medium-sized city located on the Connecticut River midway between Connecticut's capital of Hartford and its vibrant southern neighbor, New Haven. The Middletown Business District boasts dozens of eclectic locations to dine in or take out, as well as shopping and entertainment opportunities along a quintessential New England Main Street. Middletown is home to Wesleyan University, a small liberal arts college that elevates its street vibrancy and cultural offerings far beyond typical cities of its size. Middletown is extremely diverse, with residents ranging from professors to the unhoused. It is a rich environment for our fellows to learn the art and science of addiction medicine.

CT River Valley

Rushford in Middletown is located on a picturesque segment of the Connecticut River. Many of our windows face out directly onto the water, and in the warmer months, the clients often go outside and enjoy the scenery. It is reached easily via Connecticut Route 9, and our fellows can choose to live in a large number of wonderful communities within easy driving distance.

CT countryside

Hartford is rich in work and educational opportunities, housing, shopping, historical points of interest, and cultural and recreational activities.  It is the home of the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the oldest public art museum in the country, which houses masterworks by Van Gogh, Klimt, Monet, and others. Nearby, the New Britain Museum of American Art also houses a world-class collection. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Bushnell Park is a centerpiece of our community. The esteemed Hartford Symphony regularly plays at the Bushnell Memorial Theatre, a 3,000-seat auditorium that also presents Broadway shows, visiting performances, lectures, and other entertainment programs throughout the year. The Hartford Stage Company provides opportunities to see serious theater, from Shakespearean plays to new, modern offerings from the world’s best playwrights, directors, and actors. The Xfinity Theater, which is one of the largest indoor/outdoor music theaters in the country, brings diverse rock, country, rap, and pop musical performances to Hartford, too.

Downtown Hartford CT

Sports fans are well entertained in Connecticut. The XL Center in Hartford is home for the Connecticut Wolf Pack Hockey Team. It is also a site for many games played by the University of Connecticut’s Division I men’s and women’s championship basketball teams, and Rentschler Field in East Hartford is home to the University of Connecticut Huskies football team. The Hartford Yard Goats and the PGA Traveler’s Championship Golf Tournament in Cromwell provide sports enthusiasts with the opportunity to enjoy many different activities.

Middletown and Hartford are about 20 minutes apart by car. They are both about two hours from Boston and New York.  The mountains and rivers of Vermont and New Hampshire are also only about two hours away. Though Rushford Middletown is not conveniently reachable by public transportation, Hartford Hospital is easily accessible by transit and bike. Central Connecticut has strong access to transit overall.  Fellows can travel to New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, and Northern New England via train.  Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks and Tweed Airport in New Haven offer a large number of destinations, both nationally and internationally.

The cost of living in this region is moderate compared to the rest of New England. There are many safe, family-friendly communities with excellent schools in our area, which are attainable on a fellowship income.

We recognize the need for our trainees to live fulfilling lives outside of medicine. Our schedule, while rigorous, is also highly flexible and allows for work-life balance and family time. Fellows are not expected to work nights, weekends, or holidays, and they receive three weeks of vacation plus one week of CME time.