Maryland Society of Histotechnologists

Terri DeCarli, AA, HT/HTL(ASCP)
President - Retired
Supervisor, Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
tdecarli@bwmc.umms.org

In December of 1959 I graduated from Medical Technology school in Philadelphia. In those days Histology was included in the Medical Technology program. Out of all the subjects, Blood Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Blood bank, Virology, Immunohematology, Urinalysis, and Gastric Analysis, I fell in love with Histology and forever more it has stolen my heart. We used mouse tissue to make our slides.

My first job after graduation was at Jefferson Medical College Hospital doing histology in the Orthopedic department. We sacrificed the rats and decalcified the bones by hand, no automation. When I moved to Maryland, I applied for a Histology opening at North Arundel Hospital in May of 1967.

After working in the field awhile, I heard about the Maryland Society of Histotechnologists. I jumped at the chance to join, to meet other histologists and learn more about histology. I was the only technician at NAH. I met Donald Meyers, Chief Histologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who was our first President of the Maryland Society. Donald and John Murdock were my mentors. They told me about the HT Registry examination with ASCP, so in 1970 I passed the HT examination and practical. I attended the annual seminar at AFIP each year before the NSH was founded. At one of the symposia, I met and talked with Lee Luna, the grandfather of histology. I remember asking him what the color of the collagen should be in the PTAH stain. He told me, “the color of your blouse”, which was a rusty color. He later became a wonderful friend and mentor. Histotechnology lost a legend when he passed away from colon cancer.

In 1980 John Murdock and I took the exam for HTL. We both passed it but I got a 1 point higher grade than he did. We both laughed about that. After all, he had taught me so much. So many of us went faithfully to his classes, he was such a great teacher.

As Education chairman of MSH, John and Donald asked me to teach classes at University while John was there as Supervisor for the young people in the field. I did that for years, lugging my notes and kodachrome projector to the class. I had dedicated students; a couple students were coming 90 miles from St. Mary’s County and Andrews Air Force Base to the class. We all became great friends. One of them was the Cytotechnologist David Han who has served on the Board of Directors.

I wrote an article once for the newsletter and used the words that John F. Kennedy used in his Inauguration speech, “ ASK NOT WHAT YOUR SOCIETY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SOCIETY”. Histotechnology to me is the greatest field to be in. I absolutely love my job; I guess that is why I have been here 40 years this May.

I don’t understand why more histologists don’t get involved in the society. There is so much you can learn; there are wonderful people from other hospitals to meet and learn from. To have contacts at other facilities is priceless.

DON’T EVER THINK THAT YOU KNOW IT ALL ABOUT HISTOLOGY. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN LEARN.

A quote from Lee Luna: QUALITY CONTROL FACTOR
“THERE IS NOTHING CONSISTENT IN THE SCIENCE OF HISTOTECHNOLOGY. WHAT PERFORMS WELL TODAY MOST LIKELY WILL NOT TOMORROW. THEREFORE, ONE MUST USE TODAY’S RESULTS TO DETERMINE TOMORROW’S QUALITY. THIS SHOULD BE PRACTICED DAILY ON ALL FACETS PERFORMED IN THE HISTOLOGY LABORATORY”.

I was very sad to hear that beginning 2007 the registry exam will not include having to take the practical only the written. The practical exam, the embedding, microtomy, cryotomy, special stain mechanisms and all the other facets are so important to be exposed to.

Histology is such a wonderful profession. Take pride in your work at all times. Remember -- that specimen could be your parents or child.



	MSH Board Member Background Info Terri DeCarli, AA, HT/HTL(ASCP) President - Retired Supervisor, Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD 21061 tdecarli@bwmc.umms.org In December of 1959 I graduated from Medical Technology school in Philadelphia. In those days Histology was included in the Medical Technology program. Out of all the subjects, Blood Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Blood bank, Virology, Immunohematology, Urinalysis, and Gastric Analysis, I fell in love with Histology and forever more it has stolen my heart. We used mouse tissue to make our slides. My first job after graduation was at Jefferson Medical College Hospital doing histology in the Orthopedic department. We sacrificed the rats and decalcified the bones by hand, no automation. When I moved to Maryland, I applied for a Histology opening at North Arundel Hospital in May of 1967. After working in the field awhile, I heard about the Maryland Society of Histotechnologists. I jumped at the chance to join, to meet other histologists and learn more about histology. I was the only technician at NAH. I met Donald Meyers, Chief Histologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who was our first President of the Maryland Society. Donald and John Murdock were my mentors. They told me about the HT Registry examination with ASCP, so in 1970 I passed the HT examination and practical. I attended the annual seminar at AFIP each year before the NSH was founded. At one of the symposia, I met and talked with Lee Luna, the grandfather of histology. I remember asking him what the color of the collagen should be in the PTAH stain. He told me, “the color of your blouse”, which was a rusty color. He later became a wonderful friend and mentor. Histotechnology lost a legend when he passed away from colon cancer. In 1980 John Murdock and I took the exam for HTL. We both passed it but I got a 1 point higher grade than he did. We both laughed about that. After all, he had taught me so much. So many of us went faithfully to his classes, he was such a great teacher. As Education chairman of MSH, John and Donald asked me to teach classes at University while John was there as Supervisor for the young people in the field. I did that for years, lugging my notes and kodachrome projector to the class. I had dedicated students; a couple students were coming 90 miles from St. Mary’s County and Andrews Air Force Base to the class. We all became great friends. One of them was the Cytotechnologist David Han who has served on the Board of Directors. I wrote an article once for the newsletter and used the words that John F. Kennedy used in his Inauguration speech, “ ASK NOT WHAT YOUR SOCIETY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SOCIETY”. Histotechnology to me is the greatest field to be in. I absolutely love my job; I guess that is why I have been here 40 years this May. I don’t understand why more histologists don’t get involved in the society. There is so much you can learn; there are wonderful people from other hospitals to meet and learn from. To have contacts at other facilities is priceless. DON’T EVER THINK THAT YOU KNOW IT ALL ABOUT HISTOLOGY. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN LEARN. A quote from Lee Luna: QUALITY CONTROL FACTOR “THERE IS NOTHING CONSISTENT IN THE SCIENCE OF HISTOTECHNOLOGY. WHAT PERFORMS WELL TODAY MOST LIKELY WILL NOT TOMORROW. THEREFORE, ONE MUST USE TODAY’S RESULTS TO DETERMINE TOMORROW’S QUALITY. THIS SHOULD BE PRACTICED DAILY ON ALL FACETS PERFORMED IN THE HISTOLOGY LABORATORY”. I was very sad to hear that beginning 2007 the registry exam will not include having to take the practical only the written. The practical exam, the embedding, microtomy, cryotomy, special stain mechanisms and all the other facets are so important to be exposed to. Histology is such a wonderful profession. Take pride in your work at all times. Remember -- that specimen could be your parents or child.

MSH Board Member Background Info