Wow, I feel like a newbie! 28 years, registered. HT 13663, 1988, HTL 1369, 1992. Electron Microscopy Technologist, #604, 1982.
Like most, I never heard of "histology" until I walked into a hospital lab on my first day as an EM tech. I had seen slides made in college, but no one ever mentioned it could be an actual profession. I was more taken with the electron microscope, and there was (is) a 2-year program at the community college in the town I grew up in (Delta College, Stockton, CA). So AFTER getting a BA in Zoology, I went there to get a marketable skill. At that time EM was still used for tumor dx, so when I started it was about half tumor, half kidney. I was lucky enough to get involved in histology and set up the IHC lab at the small community hospital I worked at (as an EM tech) and so ended up phasing myself almost out of an EM job. The IHC took over all the tumor dx from EM. Later I left EM altogether and did IHC exclusively for 15 years. But, like most, I learned Histotechnology on the job but was lucky enough to work for a pathologist who believed in developing his techs - to the point of paying for meetings out of his own pocket. Only now do I know how fortunate I was to work for someone like that. Because of him we had developed a culture in the small histo lab (4 men!!) of learning. We studied together one night a week for the HT exam and all passed (and the practical!). Again, that was a fortunate experience, not very often seen in labs. Tim Morken Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special Studies UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Douglas Porter Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2014 11:39 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] On the lighter side... How long have you been a registered histotech? 36 years here. You??? Douglas A. Porter, HT (ASCP) Grossing Technician IT Coordinator Cancer Registrar CAP-Lab, PLC 2508 South Cedar Street Lansing, MI 48910-3138 517-372-5520 (phone) 517-372-5540 (fax) <mailto:doug.por...@caplab.org> doug.por...@caplab.org <http://www.caplab.org/> www.caplab.org _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
