The University of Rochester’s spirit of curiosity and creativity is fueled by the drive of faculty, staff, and care providers who bring new ideas to life every day. At URochester, employees are encouraged to think ambitiously and work purposefully. In the “Living Our Values” series, get to know some of the many individuals who make our lives “ever better” by turning our mission into action each day.
Behind the microscope—Meet a member of our histology technician team
Jason Toland
Histotechnician
URMC Surgical Pathology
What drew you to a career in histology?
I have always had a fascination with microscopy since a child. Prior to becoming a histology technician, I was a nurse for 20 years. As a nurse, I saw how important it was for biopsies to be processed efficiently so that physicians could quickly diagnose patients. Histology is a perfect fit for someone interested in science and helping patients receive the best care possible, which aligns with my career goals.
What does a typical day entail for you in the lab as a histology technician (histotechnician or histotech)?
First, in the morning, all rush specimens are removed from the tissue processors, embedded in paraffin wax molds, sectioned in microtomy (the process of cutting specimens), and placed on slides. Then, we put the slides on our stainer, which stains the tissue with hematoxylin and eosin (types of dye). These stain different parts of the cells, allowing pathologists to make a diagnosis. Additional slides may be cut and stained with advanced tests to detect specific antibodies and other abnormalities in the tissue.
What part of the histology process do you find most fascinating?
I am fascinated by the different types of stains we can use to highlight specific parts of tissue. We have hundreds of different stains that pathologists use to narrow down possible diagnoses.
How does your work in the lab make a difference for patients or what is the most rewarding part of your job?
Every biopsy needs a histotech to process the tissue into a slide that can be read by the pathologist. Without efficient and accurate histology processing of tissue, physicians would not be able to diagnose many conditions. I have seen firsthand the importance of this process for patients. A few years ago, my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She had multiple biopsies, which were processed through histology. Information gathered from the multiple biopsies has helped physicians determine the appropriate treatment for her disease.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about what you do?
We cut tissue to a thickness as small as 2 microns, which is 25 times thinner than a human hair.
If you had to describe your work in three words, what words would you choose?
Rewarding, challenging, and detailed.
What is the lab culture?
We all work well as a team to ensure every specimen is processed efficiently and accurately. There is always someone willing to help answer any questions. We all understand the importance of what we do and how this work affects patient outcomes.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in this field and what skills are important?
There is a lot to learn in histology, which can be overwhelming at first and can easily lead to discouragement. But don’t give up. Cutting tissue at 2-4 microns is a highly technical skill that takes many hours of practice to master.
How would you describe the support provided by leadership and your coworkers at URMC?
The leadership is excellent in our lab. Each week we have a huddle to discuss how things are going in the lab. We discuss ways to improve efficiency and how to fix any issues that may arise. Leadership listens to suggestions we have to improve things throughout the lab. We also hold monthly group meetings and one-on-one meetings to discuss topics in more detail. We all help each other and work well as a team. I truly enjoy working in this lab.