From classroom to career: College of Lake County apprentices launch futures in public safety with Advocate Health Care
Advocate Health Care and the College of Lake County recently celebrated Public Safety Officer Signing Day, recognizing the inaugural participants in a new apprenticeship program designed to address workforce shortages in public safety roles while combining education with paid, on‑the‑job experience.
Held during National Apprenticeship Week, the ceremony took place April 30 at the College of Lake County’s Grayslake Campus. The event brought together program participants, Advocate Health Care leaders, College of Lake County representatives and workforce development partners to recognize four teammates participating in the new Public Safety Officer Dual Career Track Program.
Launched in December 2025, the PSO Dual Career Track Program is a partnership between Advocate Health Care, the College of Lake County and the U.S. Department of Labor. The Illinois-based program combines college-level coursework with paid, work-based learning for teammates working in public safety roles for Advocate Health Care, part of Advocate Health.
The program was designed to address workforce shortages in public safety while strengthening Advocate Health Care’s public safety workforce pipeline through a structured, dual-pathway model that supports both new entrants and incumbent teammates.
The inaugural cohort includes four Advocate Health Care teammates in Illinois. Teammates Emily Padilla and Rehan Rashid are enrolled in the PSO Registered Apprentice program, while David Sanchez and Brian Ignaco are participating in the PSO Career Mobility Track. Sanchez and Rashid are stationed at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. Ignaco and Padilla are stationed at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
All four participants will graduate with an associate degree in criminal justice upon completion of the program.
“This program reflects the power of strong academic partnerships in preparing our workforce of today and tomorrow. By combining college level learning with paid, on the job experience, we’re creating sustainable career pathways that support professional growth while strengthening the communities we serve,” said Michele Smith, Ed.D., vice president of workforce development and career innovation for Advocate Health.
The program reflects a shared commitment between Advocate Health Care and the College of Lake County to connect education with real‑world experience while building a sustainable pipeline for public safety roles.
“People come to CLC to find a rewarding career and family-sustaining wages and a path to future opportunities,” CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick said. “Through the earn-and-learn model of apprenticeships, employers, like Advocate, make an investment that helps launch opportunities for our students. Ensuring that we’re developing that skilled talent pipeline is part of CLC’s mission.”
For participants, the program represents both professional advancement and personal growth.
“When the opportunity of attending college was first offered, I had my doubts, worries and interpersonal concerns that I will not be able to succeed in a higher education setting,” said Sanchez, a program participant and current public safety officer at Advocate Good Shepherd. “Since then, through the ebbs and flows of all the classes, I’m eager to excel beyond the capabilities I thought I would never be able to achieve.”
Public safety officers play a critical role in enabling safe, high quality care across the health system, said Dr. Jason Stopyra, vice president of public safety for Advocate Health.
“I can tell you with 100% assurance that, as a physician working in the ER, if I’m watching my back and I don’t feel safe, I can’t take care of a patient. But if I know that you’re taking care of me, you’ve got my back, guess what? I give great care to that patient. You’re part of my team. You’re on my team, and you are part of giving that outstanding health care,” Stopyra said.
By combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience, the PSO Dual Career Track Program is designed to support a strong public safety workforce while helping teammates continue to grow professionally.
For more information about apprenticeship programs at Advocate Health Care, contact the Workforce Development Team at workforce.development@aah.org.