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Histotechnicians vital to health care research

Join Harcum College in Celebrating Histotechnology Professionals Day on March 10

--Histotechnicians vital to health care research--

 

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Bryn Mawr, PA March 5, 2014  The National Society for Histotechnology and the Histotechnician Program at Harcum College will celebrate Histotechnology Professionals Day will be held on March 10, 2014. The event recognizes the contributions that are made each day by Histotechnology professionals in health care, research, environmental science, forensics, and industry.

Upwards of 50,000 histotechnology professionals are engaged in the identification of disease in patient tissue biopsies, the evaluation of drug reactions allowing for the discovery and marketing of new drug therapies, assessment of pollution and its effects on the environment and mankind, protection of the nation’s food supply, as well as the development of new diagnostic procedures to aid in the diagnosis of cancer. In health care, the work of the histotechnologist is vital to the accurate identification of cancer and other diseases in patient tissue biopsies which is key to successful treatment and cure.

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What do histotechnicians do? They prepare tissues for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. The tissue may be removed to determine cause of death, presence of diseases such as cancer, spread of disease, or proper course of treatment. After the tissue is removed, histotechnicians prepare slides so pathologists can examine it under a microscope. At Harcum College, Histotechnology is a blended program that includes online and on-ground clinical instruction. During the clinical portion of their training, histotechnicians learn to cut tissue into thin slices, mount it on slides, and stain the tissue so the cells are clearly visible under the microscope. They also perform special studies on tissue to identify cancer or cause of disease.

Histotechnicians need specialized training such as Harcum’s associates degree program to work in clinics, operating rooms, veterinary pathology, forensics, research, pharmaceutical pathology, or even marine biology.

In every instance, Histotechnology professionals are dedicated to the eradication or prevention of disease and to improving the quality of life for all. Their vital work is often unknown to the general public yet their work touches our lives in profound ways.

The celebration of Histotechnology Professionals Day will help to increase public awareness of the important contributions of these professionals as well as to educate young people who may be interested in a challenging career in this important discipline.

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About Harcum College

Harcum College, one of Pennsylvania’s first independent, two-year colleges, was founded in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1915 and was the first college in Pennsylvania chartered by the state to grant associate degrees. Harcum offers fully accredited, career-ready majors in nursing, the allied health professions, business and social sciences on campus, online, and regionally, as well as lifelong learning programs and corporate training.

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