Salem Hospital Ceremony Honors 31 Wellspring HOST Graduates

SALEM, MA — Wellspring House celebrated the graduation of 31 adults from its Healthcare Office Support Training program during a ceremony at MGB Salem Hospital in Salem.

Every enrolled student in the class received a diploma across both the full-time day program and the part-time evening program.

Wellspring House said that marked the highest graduation rate for a class of that size in the program's history. Over the past year, the organization reported an 89% graduation rate across all HOST cohorts, its highest in a decade, and said 85% of graduates secured new employment with higher wages within nine months of completing the program.

The graduates completed either a 15-week day program or a 32-week evening job training program designed to prepare North Shore residents for careers in healthcare office support.

The program began in 2002 as a single class at Salem Hospital and has since grown into a workforce pipeline serving local employers. The organization said its job training team now serves 100 adult students and advises each year, with 658 HOST graduates placed in careers across the North Shore and beyond.

“Every person who received their certificate today demonstrated something extraordinary, not just completing a rigorous program, but choosing to invest in themselves and their futures while navigating the very real pressures of daily life on the North Shore," said Melissa Dimond, President and Executive Director, Wellspring House. "That takes courage. What we've built here, together with our partners at Salem Hospital and across the region, is proof that when the right support meets the right moment, incredible things happen."

The program is licensed as an Occupational Educational School by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It also offers students an opportunity to earn college credits through an articulation agreement with North Shore Community College.

“At Salem Hospital, we're truly grateful for partnering with Wellspring and the HOST program," said Katherine E. Belategui, Nurse Director, Salem Hospital Neuroscience and Orthopedic. "Programs like this not only strengthen the hospital but our entire community. They create opportunity and help create a workforce filled with compassionate people who want to make a difference in the lives of others."

Wellspring House said employer partners include Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey health systems, Lynn Community Health Center, Cape Ann Medical Center, and Pediatric Associates of Greater Salem.

"Our support does not end at graduation," said Mary Beth Tobin, Director of Job Training, Wellspring House. "We maintain a strong alumni network and continue helping graduates navigate career growth, continuing education, job transitions, and new opportunities long after they complete the program."