The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved Middlesex Community College’s Letter of Intent on April 7, 2026 to fast‑track an Associate of Science in Diagnostic Vascular Sonography. Middlesex plans to launch a new, cohort‑based program that uses classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical experiences, aligned with CAAHEP/JRC‑DMS standards, to address a documented shortage of vascular sonographers. To implement the program, the college must hire at least one full‑time faculty/program coordinator, add adjunct/clinical instructors, expand clinical affiliation agreements, and procure vascular‑specific equipment such as duplex ultrasound systems, vascular phantoms, and Doppler/physiologic testing devices.Start‑up capital needs are estimated at about 100000 for facilities/space/equipment, with additional ongoing spending for accreditation fees, Trajecsys, marketing, and professional development, to be supported by capital funds and potential Perkins or Skills Capital grants. This creates near‑term opportunities for vendors in imaging/simulation equipment, clinical education software, accreditation and curriculum consulting, and workforce development grant support as Middlesex finalizes program design and purchases before and during the first two years of operation.

Start-up funding may include capital funds, Perkins, and Skills Capital Grant applications; clinical partners mentioned include Lowell General/Tufts Medicine, Lahey Burlington, and regional vascular labs.