On Thursday, November 7, Middlesex Community College’s Pathmaker Program graduation ceremony celebrated student success. The program helps build job training opportunities to assist in filing gaps in the Massachusetts life sciences workforce. At the graduation, students received their certificates and reflected on the experience.
“The design of the curriculum has prepared me to transition from my previous profession in human services and the medical field,” said Jerry Roun, an MCC Pathmaker Program graduate from Lowell who spoke during the ceremony. “Getting the opportunity to tour a production facility and see how Omnipods were made from scratch intrigued me. It was a pleasure to have learned with my classmates and be in such a great learning environment.”
Through funding by the Mass Life Sciences Center Pathmaker Initiative – and in collaboration with Insulet and MassHire Lowell Career Center – MCC offered Advanced Manufacturing with Robotics and Automation training. The opportunity prepares Massachusetts job seekers for careers in the life sciences industry.
“Middlesex is thrilled to partner with Mass Life Sciences, Insulet and MassHire Lowell on the Pathmaker Program to offer students a strong pathway into the life sciences workforce,” said Phil Sisson, MCC’s President. “Through this funding, a wider, more diverse population of students have access to the knowledge and skills they need to be prepared for stable, well-paying STEM jobs within the Commonwealth. While these students earn their education, our community partners gain well-prepared and high-quality employees for in-demand roles.”
To assist students with their career goals, the Pathmaker program provides them with professional development tools and opportunities. In addition to training, students can also take advantage of career counseling services, resume review, interview preparation and the college’s award-winning support services, such as tutoring.
MCC had eight students complete the program, including Roun, Andrew Bellingham, Allan Chow, Cynthia Estrada, Steven Ford, Ron Paula, Andrew Robinson, and Samoeut Sun. After graduating, they are now prepared to sit for the Tooling U certification exam.
This is MCC’s first opportunity to lead a training cohort through the Mass Life Sciences Pathmaker Initiative. Previously, MCC partnered with Mount Wachusett to run a similar program three times with Commonwealth Corporation’s RENEW funding.
In MCC’s eight-week Pathmaker Program, students received 120 hours of in-person learning and 30 hours of remote learning with ToolingU. The learning sessions discussed industry-related topics, such as lean manufacturing, industrial electricity, robotics and mechatronics.
"This latest cohort of students represented the widest range of incoming skills,” said John Henshaw, a Pathmaker program instructor. “Despite their varied backgrounds, they came together well and supported each other through the training. The end result was a strong group of students who will make great candidates for employment in medical device and other advanced manufacturing companies."
After completing the program, graduates received their Certified Manufacturing Associate Credentials through ToolingU and OSHA-10 certification. In addition, they may be eligible to interview for positions at Insulet, visit a local advanced manufacturing facility, and network with hiring managers and past students.
The Spring 2025 session will run from January 21 to March 13 on MCC’s Bedford campus. Each session takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
“The success of this program is a direct result of the strong partners involved,” said Katy Gentile, MCC’s Assistant Director of Corporate Education and Training. “Each partner plays a significant role: Insulet Corporation provides a tour of their facility, overview of open positions, onsite interviews and input into the course curriculum; MassHire Lowell Career Center provides recruitment, assessment, career readiness and counseling services; and finally, our MCC faculty and staff members manage the program and provide expert instruction in manufacturing, robotics and automation.”
Learn more about MCC's Pathmaker Initiative or email Katy Gentile for more information.