Jack Shields ’79, P’06 Center for Innovation
Empowering Students to Innovate, Create, & Lead
At BC High, the Jack Shields ’79, P’06 Center for Innovation is more than just a space—it’s a launchpad for cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit and problem-solving mindset that will define tomorrow’s leaders. We believe every student has the potential to think creatively, embrace challenges, and take action in ways that drive meaningful change.
The Center is dedicated to creating an environment where students can develop the skills and confidence to become impactful innovators. Through hands-on learning, global partnerships, and real-world challenges, students engage deeply with their community and the world around them. They learn to experiment, reflect, and iterate, gaining a clear understanding of their ability to make a difference.
Jonas Salk, who brought us one of the first successful polio vaccines, once said: ‘Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.’ That’s what this Center is all about – getting our young men to be intuitive and to think of where to look next.”
Innovation for all: A Shared Invitation
The Jack Shields Center for Innovation is not confined to the classroom—our programs are designed to enrich both students and the wider community. We invite everyone to be part of this exciting journey, whether through direct student involvement, educational collaborations, or community engagement
For Students: Building Confidence, One Idea at a Time
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.
For Educators: Collaborating for Collective Innovation
We believe that collaboration is key to innovation, which is why we extend an open invitation to schools and educators to join our Innovation Education Community of Practice. Together, we can tackle innovation challenges, engage in meaningful dialogue, and support the next generation of creative thinkers.
For the Community: Connecting Ideas to Action
The Center thrives on the active involvement of the wider community. We encourage professionals, mentors, and organizations to partner with us in innovative ways. Whether by speaking with students, leading workshops, hosting students at your company, or co-developing an innovation challenge, your involvement helps shape the future of innovation at BC High.
Interested in contributing? Fill out the Volunteer Form or reach out directly to innovation@bchigh.edu. Together, we can build a stronger, more dynamic ecosystem of innovation.
Pillars of the Center
The Shields Center is built on three core pillars, each designed to nurture and expand the innovative potential within our students and community:
Curriculum
Student and Alumni Programming
Experiential Learning
The Center creates a space for students to identify interests and create opportunities for their peers to learn more about innovation.
Innovation in Action: Student Hosted 3D Printing Workshop
Pat Sullivan ’26 led a workshop on 3D Printing for students after school. He explained what the different components of a 3D printer do, how much materials cost, how fast you can print a project, how to upload a project to print, and how to troubleshoot when you have problems printing. He also showed some of the various items he's 3D printed, including a bluetooth speaker and a hearing aid.
The annual Shields Innovation Challenge sets up student teams identify a need statement, generate potential ideas, prototype one solution, and share their proposal with potential customers and experts.
Innovation in Action: Fourth Annual Shields Innovation Challenge
Student teams identified needs in education and were tasked to generate potential solutions, with the ability to incorporate AI. Solutions were presented at the Spring Expo.
- 1st place was awarded to PaiLingual, an AI-powered innovated language learning website designed to mitigate the current waitlist of migrants in Massachusetts enrolled for English tutoring classes.
- 2nd place was awarded to Quantum Quizzers, a program that uses AI to help students do practice problems and make study plans based on their proficiency in their chosen subject.
- 3rd place was awarded to WrAIth AI, An AI writing tool to help students develop their writing skills.
The Center offers conversations and site visits for students to connect with innovation experts, companies, and organizations.
Innovation in Action: Draper Lab Field Trip
During April break, students travelled to Cambridge to learn more about aeronautics and developments in nanotechnology. Students visited Draper Labs to hear from John LeBlanc ’79, Dr. Ryan Gelly ’12, and Ray Fallon ’78 about their work in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and navigational systems. Students also visited the MIT Institute for Solider Nanotechnologies to get a tour of their lab and learn about developments in technologies to help soldiers and the military.
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!
UPCOMING EVENTS PLACEHOLDER
Summer Programming
The Shields Innovation Center offers robust summer programming for Coed 8th–10th graders. Programs build students’ innovation mindset and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Through partnerships with local innovation ecosystems and communities, students engage with real-world, real-time challenges and recognize their own agency to make an impact.
Over the summer, we offer students the opportunity to:
- explore social challenges, technologies, and industries;
- connect with innovators, companies, and organizations
- practice problem-solving and navigating ambiguity
- learn more about themselves and interests
Stay inspired and engaged
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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.
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.