A $1.5 million grant has been awarded to Danbury Hospital for a new Preventative Medicine and Public Health Residency Training Program.  Two medical residents each year will be funded for the two year study program.  Medical Education Director Dr Ramin Ahmadi says over the five years of the grant, 14 residents will be trained in this important area of medicine.

Ahmadi says preventative medicine is a keystone of the health care reform law. 

Danbury Hospital's new residency program will offer training in population health, behavioral health, occupational health and global health.  The program was designed in collaboration with the Greater Danbury Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Teaching Health Center.

The grant covers expenses including  professional education and research expenses, program administration, insurance, rent and other costs of the residents.

5th Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty was in Danbury on Friday for the grant announcement.