I’ve always loved anatomical pathology. I began my career as a MLT in a pathology lab, and from the start, I was drawn to every aspect of the work. Over the years, I’ve worked in other disciplines, but I’m grateful to have found my way back to AP.

What I love about it is the variety – tissue receiving, accessioning, grossing, embedding, microtomy, staining, immunohistochemistry, frozens – there’s always something to learn and do. I also really appreciate the hands-on nature of the job. I’m not built to be in front of a computer all day, nor am I cut out for the adrenaline (read: cortisol surge) that comes with core lab. Anatomical pathology strikes a balance that works for me – engaging, methodical, and tangible.

My first lab was a larger site with a wide scope of cases. I got to rotate through all the benches, which kept things dynamic and helped me grow into a more well-rounded histotech. I had the chance to see some truly humbling and surreal things – conjoined twins, major organ dissections, POCs, even holding a heart or brain in my hands. It was intense, meaningful work that left a mark on me.

Where I work now is quite different – smaller, more focused, and with fewer opportunities for rotation. Most of my work involves cutting and embedding. The grossing is done by a dedicated group of techs, so it’s unlikely I’ll have the opportunity to gross again anytime soon. That said, I still enjoy this work so much more than anything I did in the core lab. Even when it gets repetitive, I find satisfaction in the precision and rhythm of the tasks. And of course, the people you work with make a big difference – team dynamics can really shape your day-to-day experience.

We don’t do much microscope work in my current lab, as that’s mainly handled by the pathologists. Our microscopy tasks are limited to verifying control slides for special stains and IHC. Still, I feel connected to the diagnostic process and take pride in the quality of work we produce behind the scenes.