Are you a histologist who wants to expand your career horizons and add skills to your repertoire? You may want to consider becoming a Mohs tech. Although this work is similar to what histologists already do every day, in the NSH webinar Basic Mohs Made Simple: Understanding the Process, presenter Camille McKay, M.Ed., BSHCA, HTL(ASCP)CM, CLT, explains the differences and walks you through the techniques that are used in this process.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what the Mohs process does. As a histologist, you’re used to doing work that is part of a diagnostic process. However, Mohs is actually a therapeutic tool that is designed to remove skin cancer while maximizing healthy tissue preservation.
“That’s the selling point to patients and they tend to pick Mohs because they’re going to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible, where a topical chemo can look more like it burns the cancer away and patients get nervous,” said McKay, who is a consultant and adjunct professor at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill.
Alternative Staining Technique
Another key difference between histology work and Mohs is how staining is done in the lab. In addition to the H&E stains that you’re already accustomed to, in a Mohs lab, you will also be doing a commonly used stain known as T-blue, which is used for basal cells.
“A lot of doctors like to use T-blue alongside the H&E,” said McKay. “Those doctors will have the tech cut one slide for H&E and a second slide for T-blue. Then when you see the slides together, it really makes the basal cell pop.”
Enhanced Workplace Communication
The logistics of working in a Mohs lab are different than in a histology environment. As a histologist, you may work with several pathologists that you never see. However, in a Mohs environment, the working relationship between the tech and the surgeon are an integral part of the process—making open communication and a good working relationship extremely important.
“The Mohs surgeon and their tech go hand in hand, so they need to communicate properly,” McKay said. “You have to make sure you have a good relationship with the Mohs surgeon. If not, I would look for another job somewhere because it’s not going to work and it’s not beneficial for the patient.”
Histologists who want to add variety to their work can leverage the skills they’ve already developed to transition into a Mohs tech role and broaden their career opportunities. To learn more about the Mohs process, including its history and how it differs from traditional histology, be sure to watch NSH’s Basic Mohs Made Simple: Understanding the Process webinar. You can also continue the conversation and connect with NSH members by joining the NSH Collaborate: Mohs community, where members share insights, ask questions, and support one another in this specialized field.
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