[Histonet] RE: Histology Stories

[Beckham, Sharon]

Your introduction into histology brought back a very funny memory for me.  My kids are in their 30's now, but when my daughter was 7 or 8 she also saw her first grossing specimen which was also a leg.  She tried to talk about it in show and tell and her teacher made her stop.  She didn't want to hear about it and my daughter was so excited about being able to share the information with her classmates.   When my son was 14 or 15 he wanted to see a brain and we happened to have one from an autopsy case.  I took it out and he got one whiff of the formalin and said "Mom, no wonder you are so weird, having to smell that stuff everyday".  No one can appreciate what we do quite like our children!!  

Jessica, that was a really cool story about your Mom introducing you to histology.  It brought a tear to my eye!



-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jessica.Vacca <@t> HCAhealthcare.com
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:49 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Histology Stories

I was introduced the color world of Histology, when I was about 7 or 8. I saw my first leg being grossed. I was the cool kid in elementary school that during show and tell,  would bring in a section of brain or perhaps an embryo floating in formalin. I worked my summers filing blocks and slides (Not to worry I understood the importance of numerical order!), and as I got older would work my summers as a lab aide. After high school, and very undecided in which direction my life should go, the Histology Supervisor had encouraged as she did all her lab aides and others she felt needed to add their mark in this profession into this career. She had a histology program (at the time when it was OJT) and she would have 3 students at a time. We would work nights assisting with gross, and mornings in class. She would give us weekly exams and instill in us the importance of the profession. The majority of her students that she had taught have moved on to become supervisors and charge techs. I have to say that I come from a "family" of histologists. I was very fortunate that this woman who had an interest in my future not just in me as a person but as her daughter. You see, this supervisor was my mother, and I will forever be grateful to her for introducing me to this field. Her name is Sofia Roberts and I'm sure that there are many members that know her. So to her I say "Happy Histologist Professional Day"!

Jessica Vacca
Histology Supervisor
Brandon Regional Hospital
119 Oakfield Dr
Brandon Fl 33511
(813) 571-6410
or ext 2454
(813) 571-5169 FAX
  



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