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Histotechnician

Program Highlights

Degree Options

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

 

Histotechnology is a unique, specialized and highly important area within the medical laboratory sciences. Its focus is on the preservation of tissue and the preparation of microscopic slides for use by pathologists for patient diagnosis and treatment.

These tissues may be obtained from an operating room, clinic, doctor's office, emergency room or a postmortem examination. Histotechnicians may also prepare frozen tissue sections that enable rapid diagnosis while a patient is still undergoing surgery.

SUNY Cobleskill's Histotechnician Associate in Applied Science program is a two-year, 61-credit curriculum that provides students with the academic and technical skills necessary for entry-level employment in the field of Histotechnology.

This program covers the major areas of histotechnology, including the grossing, fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning and staining of tissues. Specialized subject areas such as bone decalcification and immunohistochemistry are also discussed and are practiced in the laboratory.

Sample courses include:

  • Biology
  • Medical Orientation ETR
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Ethics in Science, Medicine & Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Microscopic Anatomy
  • Microtechniques

Because there is currently a national shortage of trained Histotechnicians, excellent employment opportunities exist throughout the United States. Some of the job settings in which today's graduates find placements are:

  • Hospital laboratories
  • Private physician offices
  • Medical or veterinary schools
  • Pharmaceutical companies

As in many other professions, histotechnicians’ salaries increase as they attain certification, state Licensure, additional education and/or extensive experience. With these further credentials, our graduates’ career options often include:

  • Histotechnologist
  • Pathologist assistant (Master's level)
  • Immunohistochemistry specialist
  • Cytotechnology technician (Bachelor level)
  • Molecular pathologist
  • Forensic medicine technician
  • Medical or veterinary school staff 

Our affiliations include:

  • Albany Medical Center (Albany, NY)
  • Bassett Medical Center (Cooperstown, NY)
  • Bronx Zoo (Bronx, NY)
  • Buffalo General Hospital (Buffalo, NY)
  • Columbia Memorial Hospital (Hudson, NY)
  • Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
  • Champlain Valley Medical Center (Plattsburgh, NY)
  • Ellis Medicine (Schenectady, NY)
  • Glens Falls Hospital (Glens Falls, NY)
  • LabCorp Histopathology Laboratory (Syracuse, NY and Raritan, NJ)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY)
  • NYU Langone Medical Center (New York, NY)
  • Northwest Pathology (Bellingham, WA)
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Binghamton, NY)
  • St. Peter's Hospital (Albany, NY)
  • SUNY Upstate Medical Center (Syracuse, NY)
  • Wilson Memorial Regional (Johnson City, NY)
  • University of Rochester Medical Center (Rochester, NY)
  • University of Vermont Health (Burlington, VT)
The mission of the SUNY Cobleskill Histotechnology program is to teach students to work cooperatively and ethically as an essential member of a healthcare team in the preparation of tissues for diagnosis by the Pathologist. In a student centered environment with an emphasis on respect and responsibility, students acquire the knowledge and develop the technical skills necessary for entry level competence in Histotechnology.

Adam N. Tegnander, HT (ASCP)cm 
Program Director
518-255-5417
tegnanan@cobleskill.edu

Adam Tegnander is an Assistant Professor of Biology and the Program Director of Histotechnology at SUNY Cobleskill. He received an A.A.S. degree in Histotechnology from SUNY Cobleskill, a B.S. degree in Human Biology from SUNY Oneonta, and a M.H.S. in Pathologists' Assistant from Quinnipiac University. After a 10-year career as a practicing Pathologists' Assistant, Adam returned to Cobleskill and accepted a tenure track position at his alma mater SUNY Cobleskill. In addition to teaching, Adam is responsible for recruitment, administration, and advancement of the Histotechnician Program.


Marissa Supp HT(ASCP)
Histotechnology Education Coordinator
518-255-5137
suppma@cobleskill.edu

Marissa Supp has a B.S. in Human Biology from SUNY Oneonta and an A.A.S. in Histotechnology from SUNY Cobleskill, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is a Nationally and New York State certified Histotechnician.  She has spent most of her career working in clinical laboratories in New York and New Hampshire.  She is a current member of the National Society of Histotechnology and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

The SUNY Cobleskill
Histotechnology Program is a fully accredited institution by:
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5119
Phone: 773-714-8880
Fax: 773-714-8886
info@naacls.org