Histotechnology

Program Director
Mark A. Bailey, M.A.

Associate Program Director
Toysha Mayer, D.H.Sc.

The Histotechnology program is accredited by and has conformed its curriculum to the standards published and monitored by the:

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Rd., Ste. 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone   773-714-8880
Fax   773-714-8886

The program has developed affiliations with reference labs and medical institutions in Texas, so that students will develop expertise in a variety of settings and experience the breadth of opportunity available to a certified histotechnologist. During the clinical phase of instruction, training and supervision are provided in affiliated hospitals and clinical laboratories.
 

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Texas Medical Center
  • Science Park Smithville, Bastrop
    
• Ben Taub Hospital, Harris Health System
• Harris County Institute of Forensic Science
• Houston Methodist Hospital
• McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Sagis Diagnostics 
   

LABORATORY INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT POLICY

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the process by which a student enrolled in the Histotechnology Program is informed and affected by a laboratory internship rotation cancellation.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions Program in Histotechnology to limit student enrollment to that of available laboratory internship rotations. In case of an internship rotation site cancellation, affected student/s must be informed within 5 school days of the cancellation. Student placement in the remaining laboratory internship rotation will be picked up by one of the MD Anderson rotation sites; or an equitable experience will be offered in the program’s student laboratory; or by other Houston sites to ensure their clinical education will not be interrupted.

STUDENT INTERNSHIP WORK POLICY

Students at the MD Anderson School of Health Professions Program in Histotechnology are required to perform regular service work in histopathology laboratories as a part of their internship education. This allows students to become competent with histologic techniques and prepares them to enter the workforce with the necessary entry-level competencies to function in any routine histopathology laboratory. All laboratory service work  performed by students will be monitored by the assigned preceptor in each laboratory.

THE USE OF STUDENTS IN PLACE OF QUALIFIED HISTOTECHNOLOGY STAFF IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Note: If the student must be left alone in any laboratory area for an extended period, please notify the Program Director to ensure proper supervision of the student. Students are also exempt from the “on call” rotation and other laboratory experiences outside of the regular working hours.

As a specialty in the clinical laboratory sciences profession, histotechnology comprises the application of theory and applied knowledge in preparing and testing surgical and biopsied tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists.

The rapid growth of this specialty offers numerous opportunities inclusive of receiving a comprehensive education in entry level routine and special histotechniques, laboratory operations, immunohistochemistry, biopsy grossing and digital imaging. Upon completion of the program a Bachelor of Science in Histotechnology degree is conferred and eligibility requirements are satisfied to take the American Society of Pathology (ASCP) Board of  Certification HTL examination affording opportunities to advance a career in the following laboratory services.

• Basic or Clinical Science Research Laboratories
• Clinical Histopathology or Anatomical Pathology Laboratories
• Government Agencies
• Industrial or Manufactures of Histotechnology Instruments
• Medical Examiners Offices
• Medical School Histology Services
• Pharmaceutical Laboratories
• Veterinary Surgery and Medicine Histology Laboratories

Histotechnologists receiving a comprehensive technical, administrative and leadership education will advance their career path beginning as a clinical service bench histotechnologist and advance, if qualified and ambitious, to become a lead histotechnologist, supervisor, lab manager, lab informatics manager, educator and administrator.

In addition, MD Anderson’s Department of Human Resources conducted an analysis of state and local compensation reporting the salary range is $55,000 to $75,000 for a BS, HTL (ASCP)^CM clinical histotechnologist.