July 8
North Shore Community College’s (NSCC) new executive director of apprenticeship pathways, Alexander Cain, is working closely with local employers to develop three allied health apprenticeship programs: medical assisting, surgical technology, and respiratory care. Last year, the Smith Family Foundation awarded NSCC a three-year, $750,000 grant to develop apprenticeship pathways that strengthen the region's healthcare workforce.
Hospitals and medical centers across the United States—including many on the North Shore—face a dire shortage of qualified employees. NSCC’s new apprenticeship pathways will work with hospitals to upskill and invest in their existing employees, simultaneously addressing workforce needs while giving apprentices new career opportunities.
“When a student starts with an apprenticeship, there is a pathway for them to have a meaningful career where they are respected and can advance, and often, they can graduate debt-free,” said Cain.
"North Shore's mission is to invest in the community, to be a partner that will not just produce productive citizens, but people who know what their worth is and can help the community grow and thrive. Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to lift up underserved communities: they create pathways that allow communities to thrive. When you have students who do not have traditional avenues to college or to a career, apprenticeships are a powerful, powerful tool.”
Take, for example, an employee working at the reception desk at a local hospital. This employee wants to become a medical assistant for better pay and career opportunities, so she coordinates with the hospital to enter NSCC's medical assisting apprenticeship. She continues working at the hospital during the apprenticeship, getting hands-on experience in addition to classroom training. When she graduates debt-free with a certificate in medical assisting, she is promoted to a medical assistant, and she gets a pay increase—all without leaving her community.
Cain says that for students, the benefits are threefold: “First of all, you're getting real-world training. You're with an employer who will train you to their specific company and industry needs. You're also getting training that's relevant; you're not working off of a system that's 10 years old. Apprenticeships create pathways not just to a job, but for a career—you're going to have an employer investing in you, and statistically, people who complete apprenticeships stay with their employer for a longer period of time.”
Meet NSCC’s New Executive Director of Apprenticeship Pathways
A lifelong Merrimack Valley resident, Cain lives in Merrimac, Massachusetts, with
his wife and their two children. Bringing more than 15 years of workforce development
experience, Cain began his career teaching courses in business development and marketing
before becoming an academic dean for a career school, overseeing the business, ESL,
cybersecurity, and graphic design programs. He then moved on to Lincoln Tech, where,
as an education director and academic dean, he oversaw the development and launch
of the school’s allied tech and skilled trades programs.
Joining the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, Cain expanded the youth career exploration program in which the organization partnered with local high schools to introduce students to advanced manufacturing and skilled trades.
In his new position at NSCC, Cain will develop and launch three allied health apprenticeships, two of which (medical assisting and surgical technology) are expected to begin in January 2027. In the future, he plans to expand the College’s apprenticeship pathways to other allied health fields and eventually to other fields like manufacturing. An additional goal is to launch a pre-apprenticeship program, which would give high school students introductory training and career opportunities.
“Through apprenticeship, healthcare organizations can invest in their current workforce
by helping entry-level employees advance into critical roles while remaining on the
job. It's a model that benefits employees, employers, and our entire community,” said
Lori Vinci, dean of health professions. “Alexander brings the experience, vision,
and collaborative leadership needed to expand apprenticeship opportunities that benefit
both our students and our employer partners.”
Learn more about Massachusetts’ plan to expand apprenticeship pathways.