medical laboratory scientist
IMMUNHOHISTOCHEMISTRY
10+ years Immunohistochemistry (IHC) experience - Focused on development, optimization & validation of antibody and CISH assays, titrations, concentrated & pre-diluted antibodies (IVD/RUO), off-line & on-line antigen retrieval techniques, manual staining, automated staining on Ventana, Dako & Leica autostainer platforms.
HISTOLOGY TECHNOLOGIST
16+ years Histology / Pathology experience with a focus on patient care, quality, teamwork, customer service, innovation, integrity and accountability.
PATHOLOGY
Grossing Technician
12 years of Gross Pathology experience. Gross examination of fresh tissue from surgery. Macroscopic manifestations of disease in organs, tissues, and body cavities for diagnostically useful findings made during the gross examination portion of surgical specimen processing.
Autopsy Assistant
I worked with medical experts and pathologists to determine an individual's cause of death. I prepared a body for autopsy, collect, weigh, categorize specimens and foreign substances found in a body during an autopsy, and restore a body after an examination.
Phlebotomist
Allied health professionals drawing blood from patients for medical testing. I prepared and processed blood tests for multiple departments in the laboratory. Assisted with fine needle aspirations and frozen sections - frozen section examination is a specific type of biopsy procedure that allows a surgeon to establish a rapid diagnosis of a suspicious mass during surgery via cryosectioning and rapid H&E staining.
LEADERSHIP
4 years of leadership and management experience leading and supervising 3 teams with a total of 15 employees that directly reported to me. Contributed to the writing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Knowledge of and compliance of regulatory agencies to include CLIA, CAP, OSHA, ISO, & NYSDOH. Laboratory IT solution testing and implementation (UAT testing). Workflow analysis through Kaizen and streamline process mapping, implementation of lean practices such as 5S into the Histology/IHC department.
COURSES
2020
Management and Leadership (MGT229) Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
2014
Management program NSH Austin, TX
Situational Leadership® Training Course Phoenix, AZ
Ventana Benchmark Ultra Operator Training Ventana Medical Systems Tucson, AZ
2013
Theory and Practice of In-Situ Hybridization Dako Carpenterina, CA
2012
Theory and Practice of Immunohistochemistry Dako Carpenterina, CA
2011
Validation of Equipment and Methods Seminar Program NSH Annual Symposium/ Convention Providence, RI
Dako AutostainerPlus Link Administrator Training Dako Carpenterina, CA
Ventana Benchmark XT Instrumentation for IHC Ventana Medical Systems Tucson, AZ
NSH webinar series 2011- 2020
PROJECTS
IHC markers and CISH probe re-validation Re-validation of IHC antibodies and CISH probes: HER2, ER, PR, AR, CKIT, TOPO1, TOPO2, PTEN, EGFR, PGP, CMET, RRM1, MMR (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2) HER2 CISH, TOPO2 CISH, EGFR CISH 2014 – 2015
Optimization and validation of new CISH probes IHC antibodies 2014 – 2015
Diagnostic markers validations 2015
Fluid validation 2015
Fluidigm validation 2015
PD1 IHC Assay Design & Validation 2015
ORGANIZATIONS
Arizona Society of Histotechnology (ASH) Apr 2006 - Present
National Society of Histotechnology (NSH) Apr 2006 - Present
Phoenix College Histology Program Mentor Jul 2014 - Aug 2016
EQUIPMENT
Leica Cassette Printer, Leica Slide Printer, Sakura Tissue-Tek VIP, Thermo Scientific Excelsior, Leica PELORIS, Sakura Tissue-Tek TEC Embedding Console System, Leica and Sakura Microtomes & Waterbaths, Sakura Tissue-Tek Prisma Slide Stainer, Ventana HE 600, Ventana XT, Ventana Ultra, Dako Autostainer & Leica Bond Autostainer
PAST WORK:
P4 DIAGNOSTIX // Histology Technologist
Target CW - Caris Life Sciences // PRN Histology Technologist
• Performing routine histology - microtomy, cutting patient tissue, placing control tissue on IHC slides, re-embedding as
needed, cutting control tissue slides for special projects.
Spectrum Dermatology // Histology Technician | Phoenix, AZ
• Accessioning, processing, embedding, microtomy, H&E staining, special stains by hand, gross examination of dermatology specimens, IHC staining, reagent and IHC antibody validation
Chandler Pathology // Laboratory Consultant | Phoenix, AZ
Improved processes and testing, aiming for high-quality results, increasing cost reductions for the department and the organization
Developed training programs and improved on-the-job performance through standardization processes
Equipment validation and maintenance
Ensured compliance with state and federal regulations and mandates, prepared the lab for CLIA inspection
Caris Life Sciences | Phoenix, AZ
Supervisor of Support Services over Accessioning, QA Reporting, & Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
Oversight of daily operations maintained workflow. Schedule employees and manage PTO requests.
Documented corrective action, assisted with tracking metrics. Managed the training of new employees. Evaluated
& ensured compliance of personnel competency and tracking through document control
Presented QC data and trends at management review meetings
Reviewed and updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the accessioning, reporting & IHC departments
Troubleshooting of assay and equipment
Assisted management and QA with internal audits, inspection prep, and certification prep for CLIA, NYS, CAP,
FDA, ISO regulatory compliance inspections, and other special projects for R&D
Lead Technician IHC
Assisted management with workflow
Maintained standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the IHC department
Documented data for the quality control data & trends meeting for management review
Histology Technician II
Performed routine histology including microtomy, and re-embedding as needed, H&E staining, IHC staining, gross examination (2011 only), cassette printing, processing, embedding patient and bulk control tissue
Special projects such as cutting tissue for validations and the R&D department, reagent QC
Bostwick Laboratories // Histology Technician
• Routine histology including microtomy, microwave processing, and H&E staining. Grossing prostate biopsy specimens, LEEP, and cervical biopsies
Ameripath // Grossing Technician | Kansas City, MO
• Gross examination of several types of tissue such as needle core biopsies, GI biopsies, polyps, LEEP, cervical biopsies, appendix, gallbladder, tonsil, products of conception, and dermatology specimens. Loading the tissue cassettes on the processor, organization, and storage of empty formalin vials, and tissue dump
Mayo Clinic // Histology Technician | Phoenix, AZ
• Routine histology including embedding, microtomy, tissue processing, H&E staining, equipment preventative maintenance and tissue dump
Carl T Hayden Veterans Memorial Hospital // Phlebotomist | Phoenix, AZ
I started at the VA hospital as a Phlebotomy student. I was offered a full-time position in the main lab as a Phlebotomist. I assisted in histology, the gross room, and the morgue while attending the Histology Program at Phoenix College.
Performed STAT blood draws in the inpatient and outpatient labs and went on rounds on all hospital wards including ICU,
nursing home, and the mental health ward
Receipt in specimens in the Histology department and processed and centrifuged applicable specimens in the laboratory
for testing, send-outs for testing.
Setting up the grossing station for the pathologist
Assist the pathologist with FNA, frozen sections, and assisting in the morgue with autopsies
Prepare cell samples for cervical cytology and HPV testing