NSH - National Society for Histotechnology

09/05/2025

If you know Lamar, you know he loves the Titanic. 🚢

As NSH President and a lifelong history fan, M. Lamar Jones, HT(ASCP)HTL, is already planning extra time during the NSH Convention to explore the Queen Mary in Long Beach—and he’s sharing a few of his favorite fun facts about it with us.

We hope you take a little time to enjoy what excites you while you’re with us this September. See you at the 2025 NSH Histotechnology Convention!

09/02/2025

Ever looked at CAP’s rules for competency assessments and thought, “Wait… who can actually do this?” Good news — a recent checklist update just made things a little easier.

1️⃣ General supervisors can now assess both moderate- and high-complexity testing.
2️⃣ Associate’s degree holders with 4+ years’ non-waived testing experience can now qualify as technical consultants — and assess competency for moderate-complexity testing.

Read the update: https://bit.ly/3UsaqtW

08/27/2025

When the lab workforce shortage meets an out-of-the-box solution… you get results.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, a cross-training program between pathology and dermatology has strengthened teams, built lasting mentorships, and helped fill critical roles — even bringing in two new full-time employees.

Read the blog post from Camille McKay, M.Ed., BSHCA, HTL(ASCP), CLT. 👇

As a proud member of the New York State Laboratory Leadership Consortium, consisting of senior laboratory leadership and management of the academic health systems of New York State, the top priority at this time is: the laboratory workforce shortage: What can we do? The consortium has coined such ph...

08/25/2025

👏 Join us in celebrating NSH member & veteran histologist, Cristi Rigazio!

For nine years, Cristi has led her team at Sentara Health through challenges big and small, with humility, trust, and a genuine belief in her team’s potential.

In the below Q&A, she shares:
• Her philosophy on effective leadership
• How she keeps her team engaged and motivated
• Advice for histotechs stepping into leadership roles

Read on: https://bit.ly/4ozVuYz

08/22/2025

If you’ve ever tried to replicate a study only to find the images were tiny, unclear, or missing key details… you’re not alone.

With new NIH guidelines putting reproducibility front and center, the role of images in research is more important than ever. In our latest blog, histotechnology leaders share what makes reproducibility difficult — and how clearer, more detailed imaging can make all the difference: https://bit.ly/4oBnPOc

08/20/2025

With more than 30 years of experience in pathology, histotechnology, and Mohs surgery, Camille McKay, M.Ed., BSHCA has guided and mentored countless histotechs throughout her career.

At this year's NSH Histotechnology Convention, she’ll share her knowledge in the Basic Mohs workshop — introducing the fundamentals of this specialized field and giving histotechnicians a clear understanding of what Mohs is and how it works.

See the full workshop details and join us in Long Beach ➡️ https://bit.ly/4fBj0A9

08/18/2025

Earlier this year, the NSH Board of Directors and staff met in Baltimore for two days of strategic planning. The result? A sharper focus on the vision of NSH, with measurable targets and a renewed sense of purpose as we head toward the 2025 NSH Histotechnology Convention in Long Beach.

Our updated vision and mission reflect our commitment to an empowered global community of histotech professionals—connecting science, medicine, and patients, and improving patient outcomes through education, advocacy, and quality care.

A special shoutout to our Board of Directors, M. Lamar Jones, HT(ASCP)HTL, David Krull, HT(ASCP), QIHC, Joanna Barton, HT(ASCP)HTL, Michelle Bell, HT(ASCP), Liz Chlipala, HTL(ASCP)QIHC, Luis Chiriboga, PhD, HT(ASCP)QIHC, Christie Gowan, HT(ASCP), Dawn Schneider, HT(ASCP), Donna Chuddley, HT(ASCP).

08/15/2025

From the lab bench to labs across the world—Dan Scungio has made safety his mission.

Over the last 30+ years, he’s helped busy lab teams find quick answers, worked with the WHO and ISO to strengthen global safety standards, and shared simple practices that protect workers and improve results—even in resource-limited settings in African nations.

Next month at the 2025 NSH Histotechnology Convention, Dan will bring his "Laboratory Safety… A Cool Journey!" keynote to Long Beach. Don’t miss the chance to hear his story and take home safety strategies you can put to work right away. Details at histoconvention.org.

08/14/2025

Now trending on the NSH member forum, The Block: "We recently bought new water baths for sectioning and we were wondering if anyone typically does any calibration or temperature verification on these throughout the year."

Submit your response here: https://bit.ly/47spa3y

08/13/2025

Xylene-free and still getting great H&Es? It's possible!

Mark your calendars for our next Lab Webinar on 8/27, "Xylene Free Histology." Hear first-hand stories from techs who’ve made the switch, plus practical tips for reducing chemical exposure without sacrificing quality.

Register your lab: https://bit.ly/45ztc7U

08/11/2025

If you know Lamar, you know he loves the Titanic. 🚢

As NSH President and a lifelong history fan, M. Lamar Jones, BS, HT(ASCP), HTLCM, is already planning extra time during the NSH Convention to explore the Queen Mary in Long Beach—and he’s sharing a few of his favorite fun facts about it with us.

We hope you take a little time to enjoy what excites you while you’re with us this September. See you at the 2025 NSH Histotechnology Convention!

08/08/2025

Even the most meticulous histotech workflow isn’t immune to contamination.

From mislabeled containers in procedure rooms to debris found deep in a tissue processor, the risks are real—and they can compromise diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

Valerie Cortright, BA, HT, HTL, QIHC, shares real-world examples from her work at The University of Vermont Medical Center, plus the simple changes that can make the biggest difference.

Where in your lab have you seen the highest risk for floaters? 💭

Despite the best efforts of histotechnologists to be as precise as possible when handling tissue samples, contamination happens—and when it does, the fallout can be serious. From devastating misdiagnoses to hefty lawsuits, tissue contamination can come at a cost. In the NSH “Tissue Contaminants ...