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Jack Shields '79, P'06 Center for Innovation

About the Center


The Shields Center for Innovation believes each student can build their innovation mindset and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. We create the conditions that form action-oriented problem solvers who understand self, others, and context. Through partnerships with our local and global innovation ecosystems and communities, students engage with real-world, real-time challenges. As students identify opportunities, experiment, reflect, and iterate with those they are serving, they recognize their own agency to make an impact.

Jack Shields Center Logo

  • Students

    Whether students participate in one of our innovation challenges, meet with experts through office hours, or partner with the Shields Center for Innovation to co-create programs they desire, students explore opportunities, practice problem solving, and build confidence in their ability to make an impact.

  • Educators

    Schools are invited to join our Innovation Education Community of Practice, collaborate on innovation challenges, and participate in our Shields Challenge.

    Please fill out the Innovation Education Opportunities for Students & Educators form to express your interest.

     

    Education Opportunities
  • Community

    Want to get involved? Please complete our Shields Center for Innovation Volunteer Form or email [email protected].

    Opportunities include speaking with groups of students, leading a workshop, hosting students at your company or organization, and partnering on an innovation challenge.

     

    Volunteer Form

Pillars of the Center

  • Curriculum

    Form action-oriented problem solvers who are courageous, reflective, and committed to addressing society’s most pressing challenges.


  • Student and Alumni Programming

    Create opportunities for students and alumni to participate in conversations, entrepreneurship workshops, and innovation challenges.

  • Experiential Learning

    Partner with local and global innovation ecosystems to offer real-world projects that build each student’s innovation mindset.

Selection of Student Programming

Student-Led Iniatives

Presented by the Shields Ambassador Surgery Project Team, students learned and practiced basic stitches in this hands-on workshop with Brady Lane '24. The Center creates a space for students to identify interests and create opportunities for their peers to learn more about innovation.

Challenges

Himnish Jindal '26, KinJia Wong '26, and KinYuan Wong '26 present their winning submission for the third annual Shields Innovation Challenge. Student teams identify a need statement, generate potential ideas, prototype one solution, and share their proposal with potential customers and experts.

Speakers & Field Trips

John Hynes '82 speaks with a student about Rain Basketball, a company that redesigns basketballs with updated seam patterns. We offer conversations and site visits for students to connect with innovation experts, companies, and organizations.

Our Events

The Shields Center is excited to host a number of events for the community that welcome some of the greatest innovators in our City and around the world!

Shields Center Events

Shield Center Meeting With greatest Innovators

Innovation

Innovation Summer Programs 

Learn more about the Shields Center innovation summer programs.

Summer Innovation Programs

 

 

Meet Jack Shields

Jack Shields is Founder and Chairman of Shields Health Solutions, one of the fastest growing private companies in America. Before starting the company in 2012, Jack was President of Shields MRI for 20 years. Under Jack’s leadership, Shields MRI formed more than 30 hospital partnerships with health care systems throughout the North East, growing the company into the largest outpatient imaging provider in New England, and making it nationally recognized as one of the preeminent companies in the radiology industry.

Over his 30 years as a national leader in healthcare entrepreneurship, Jack has overseen the creation of four highly successful companies in the fields of dialysis, oncology, radiology and pharmacy. Each company was founded with care and service at its core, providing more affordable healthcare and better access to healthcare for more kinds of people.

In 2015, Jack was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his work starting Shields Health Solutions. Jack was also selected from dozens of entrepreneurs as a national spokesperson for Verizon, appearing in television campaigns speaking on the importance of technology and innovation in healthcare. As part of Jack’s work branding Shields MRI he created partnerships with all of the new England sports teams including the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, more recently working on direct-to-consumer ad campaign with Tom Brady as spokesperson for Shields MRI.

Shields delivered a compelling commencement

Jack currently serves as Founder and Co-Chairman of Shields Capital, venture capital firm focused on innovation in the health care sector. He is also on the advisory board of Riverside Partners, a healthcare private equity firm, and on the board of Allied Dental.

His civic responsibilities have included co-founding the Brockton Boys and Girls Club, being a candidate for U.S. Congress in 1992, and serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Boston College High School.
Jack earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he played middle linebacker on the 1981 Sugar Bowl team. He holds a J.D. from Catholic University School of Law.