In a major move for education and healthcare in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu, alongside leaders from Boston Public Schools, Mass General Brigham, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, have announced a historic collaboration aimed at reshaping the Edward M. Kennedy Academy into an advanced training hub for future health professionals. According to a statement by the City of Boston, this partnership, backed by a whopping $37.8 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, sets the record for the biggest philanthropic investment in the history of the Boston Public Schools.
The grant is going to fuel an expansion that will double the student body at EMK to 800 and integrate new health career pathways, including surgery, medical imaging, and biotech/medical lab science. Announced at Massachusetts General Hospital, this expansion comes with the promise of college courses, work-based learning opportunities, and a direct pathway to gainful employment within the Mass General Brigham system for graduates. Despite the press surrounding the announcement, it seems evident, with Mass General Brigham being the state’s top private employer, that students are getting a golden ticket to join the ranks of Boston's esteemed healthcare workforce.
Mayor Wu highlighted the essential role of this partnership in bridging education with real-world opportunities “As the birthplace of public education, Boston must give our young people the world—in the classroom, in community, and in every corner of our city. Today we take a huge step forward in our vision for every high school student to be college and career-ready. With this transformational support, we are bringing the full resources of Mass General Brigham’s nation-leading teaching hospitals into a deep partnership with the Boston Public Schools,” Mayor Wu told the City of Boston.
Superintendent Mary Skipper lauded the initiative as well, noting that it builds seamlessly on the existing partnership and sets students on a path to immediate success after graduation. “This exciting partnership allows us to build on the success of the EMK partnership with Mass General Brigham to provide our students with meaningful learning experiences that set them up for a bright future with career opportunities in Boston’s world class medical facilities and beyond,” Skipper explained to the City of Boston
Alongside meeting the workforce needs, Dr. Anne Klibanski of Mass General Brigham emphasized the partnership's role in addressing health disparities through a diverse, skilled workforce. In an effort certain to strengthen Boston's healthcare system, Bloomberg Philanthropies has also unveiled a $250 million initiative to replicate such career high schools in 10 other communities across the United States, as reported by the City of Boston.
Michael R. Bloomberg himself chimed in on the significance of the initiative, stressing that this approach to education is a necessary pivot for cultivating a skilled workforce, which in turn will nurture a stronger middle class in America.
