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American Society for Mohs Histotechnology

Summer 2017 Newsletter

President's Message

Dear Colleagues,

This has been a very active and productive year for the ASMH. New and innovative changes continue to be implemented. But, as always, there is still much work to be done.

The continued success of our society is built upon the membership, and the time and dedication of our Board of Directors, committee chairs, committee members, volunteers and our management team.

Congratulations to our incoming board members: Rodney Barber, Secretary/Treasurer and Fatat Sleiman, Director. I would also like to acknowledge the outgoing Board members: Sakina Sadiq, HT (ASCP), QIHC, Secretary/Treasurer and Rodney Barber, HT, Director. Without the honorable service of these individuals and our entire Board of Directors, our membership would not be able to enjoy the benefits and resources that our society has to offer.

This is an exciting time in our society's history to run for leadership. For those of you who are interested, this year we will be accepting nominations for the Vice President position and one Board Director position. Nominate someone or nominate yourself. This is your opportunity to work with like-minded individuals who help shape the future of ASMH. You can make a difference!

Thank you to all those who attended the 23rd Annual Meeting in San Francisco; we had an outstanding attendance of 264! Our current membership stands at 434 and continues to grow each year. I appreciate the valuable time and passionate work of the Scientific Program Chair, Robert Milewski, HT and the Program Committee: M. Maureen (Mo) Gagnot, HT (ASCP), Robert Tagliaferro, HT (ASCP), Cindy Krol, Kathi McAdoo, Cassandra Riddle, CMA, Fatat Sleiman, CLT (ASCP) and Jeanie Wade, HT (ASCP). Many thanks to the workshop volunteers, the speakers and the moderators who helped make this meeting a great success. I would also like to extend a very gracious thank you to Mary Randall, Executive Director, ASMH,  who continues to effectively cultivate our growing societal demands.

This year, at our 2017 Annual Meeting, we introduced a highly successful workshop day prior to the General Session. The workshops included core topics that covered the essentials of our profession. These workshops allowed our members to have more time and personal interaction learning and discussing their specific interests. This portion of our Annual Meeting will continue to evolve, and we will continue to incorporate new subjects, appealing to all levels of our profession.

Our 24th Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 3 - Saturday, May 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Mark your calendars for another great educational program, networking and exchange of knowledge with your colleagues. Also, I encourage you to submit an abstract. The submitter of the top abstract will receive $1,000 and will give a 30-minute presentation at the Annual Meeting. The winning abstract will be included in the Annual Meeting Final Program. Learn more here.

The MTQA Training Initiative program continues to progress. We now have a total of 17 trainers with more applicants pending review. This program is intended to promote a higher national standard to our profession. It offers customized training to Mohs techs in need of improving or honing their skills and technical knowledge. Learn all aspects of Mohs Frozen Sectioning Technique, along with its "pearls", by an experienced, ACMS approved trainer. If you, or your Mohs Surgeon, are interested please contact the ASMH office.

The next MTQA Training event will be held on October 12-13, 2017 at the Avantik Training Campus in Springfield, NJ, located just outside of New York City. If you enjoy learning, networking, and earning 12 CEUs through the NSH, this is a training opportunity you will not want to miss! Click here for more information and to register for this training.

I encourage all members to maintain your annual membership. ASMH membership gives you an opportunity to have access to Mohs Histotechnology specific resources as well as discounted registration to our Annual Meetings. There is much technical and scientific knowledge to gain through your membership along with the invaluable networking benefits.

Together we can continue to make the ASMH the gold standard for Mohs Histotechnology. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to lead the way. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Histologically yours,



Linda Cesario, DPM, HT (ASCP)
ASMH President


Training and Staff Resources

The Training/Staff Resources page of the ASMH website lists organizations that provide temporary staffing for Mohs labs, training for new and/or experienced technicians, or consulting services. Directory listings include your company logo, a description of services offered, and a link to your company's website, and are available to ASMH members at a discounted rate. If you business is interested in advertising on ASMH's Training/Staff Resources page, contact the ASMH office at info@mohstech.org


Board Elections

Nominations are now being accepted for two positions on the 2018 ASMH Board of Directors. In early 2018, the membership will elect one Vice President and one Director. Terms for each position will begin at the conclusion of the 2018 Annual Meeting.

Candidates for the office of Vice President must have served at least one full term on the Board of Directors prior to election. The Vice President will serve a two-year term and will automatically transition into the role of President at the conclusion of this term. The Director will serve a three-year term.

Nominations for both positions must be received by the ASMH office no later than Friday, January 5, 2018. Self-nominations are accepted. Elections will take place via electronic voting beginning in February 2018.

Please find the nomination form here.


Biennial Workforce Survey

One of the benefits of ASMH membership is the ability to contribute to ASMH's biennial Workforce Survey (formerly known as the Salary Survey). Data obtained from this survey will not only help examine industry standards and trends, but will assist you and other Mohs technicians in determining if you are paid competitively. When you know what the industry standard is, you can better negotiate your salary with your current employer during the performance appraisal process. This information can also assist you with future job search efforts. This survey will close August 31, 2017.

Your participation is important! Please take a moment to participate in the 2017 survey using the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017_WorkforceSurvey

This survey will close August 31, 2017. All survey participants will be entered in a drawing to win one of two $25 Visa gift cards. The drawing for the gift cards will be held on Friday, September 1, 2017. The information on the last page of the survey will be used for drawing purposes only and will not be included in the tabulation or results of the survey.

Survey results will be available to all members at no cost in December 2017.


Tip of the Trade - Heat Extractor

Cheap to Keep Heat Extractor Created in Laboratory

by Robert Tagliaferro, HT (ASCP) CMP

Advocates of the heat extractor method of embedding Mohs specimens rely on a flat heavy gauge hunk of metal. Most new cryostats are usually equipped with one on the inside chamber and it is usually mounted to an armature to facilitate freezing the tissue (not very user friendly). However, there are certain situations where utilizing the heat extractor outside of the cryostat is optimum. After numerous searches on the internet and dealing with sticker shock, I decided to create a heat extractor for my laboratory.

A heat extractor is little more than a large mass of metal (preferably iron or steel) with a broad flat surface. Acquiring a sizable solid piece of steel is quite difficult. However, single 1/16" thick pieces of galvanized steel (which is readily available at most local home improvement stores) stacked on top of one another would emulate the necessary solid hunk of metal. A stack of nine of these metal plates piled up to a 1/2 inch thick makes a suitable substitute without the sticker shock.

To begin:

Step 1:  Purchase nine 2 1/2" X 1 1/2 X 1/16" nail stops (used in construction to stop nails from going through a stud

 

 

Step 1A: The underside will have triangular teeth that bite into the wood stud when installed.

 

 

Step 2: Using pliers, bend and remove teeth on eight of the pieces. Leave them on piece number nine.

 

 

Step 2A: Visual of teeth removed.

 

 

Step 3:  Two #6-32 tread count - 3/4" round head screws and nuts are used to connect the plates together.

 

 

Step 4: This is what it should look like (notice the teeth on the last plate are now legs for it to stand on).

 

 

Step 5: The heat extractor is now complete and ready for use. (Cost - under $5.00)

 

 

Final Step: The item will take approximately 15-20 minutes to achieve cryochamber temperature (-10C to -30). It will stay cold enough to adhere tissue for approximately 2-4 minutes outside the cryochamber (Ambient room temperature 22C). The photo shows the heat extractor in action; notice the epidermis edge turning white while the specimen freezes.


Visit the Mohs Surgery Career Center

Visit the online Mohs Surgery Career Center to search for open histotech positions. Surgeons, physician assistants, dermatopathologists, practice managers, administrative staff and others can also search openings, post resumes, and connect with employers.

Advantages for Job Seekers

  • Search for and apply to relevant jobs in the field of Mohs surgery
  • Set up Job Alerts to be notified when a job is posted that matches your criteria
  • Create an anonymous profile or upload your resume so employers can find you
  • Mobile-friendly design ensures easy access from laptops, tablets, or phones

To search, either enter a position or title in the search bar on the home screen of the Career Center, or click on the Job Seeker tab at the upper left of your screen and select from several options, such as search for jobs, upload and manage your resume, create custom job alerts, view career resources, or log in to your account. Please note that searching for jobs doesn’t require an account; you can apply via email, but to apply from within the system you’ll need to create a free account.

PLEASE NOTE: If you or your practice is looking to hire a surgeon or histotech, your ACMS member surgeon has access to discounted pricing in the Career Center and can log in using his or her ACMS member username and password to post open positions. All ACMS surgeons have received information on pricing and system access. We are working on a solution that would allow those who work for ACMS members (histotechs, marketing staff, practice managers, etc.) to post on their behalf and get member pricing. An email will be sent on this when more information is available.

To find or post an open Mohs histotech position, visit the Mohs Surgery Career Center.


The MTQA Training Initiative was created by the ACMS to elevate the national standard of Mohs histotechnology and is the only ACMS-approved training program designed to help current Mohs technicians improve their skills and learn new techniques. MTQA trainers are approved for the program after an application process and slide review by a panel of ACMS surgeons, and are complete subsequent slide reviews periodically to maintain their status as trainers. Learn more.


Note to ASMH Membership Newsletter Readers:
Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise throughout this e-newsletter, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the American Society for Mohs Histotechnology. The views and opinions of authors expressed do not state or reflect those of the American Society for Mohs Histotechnology.

ASMH Board of Directors