“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” – Confucius

We have all encountered the difficulties in educating, training and re-training employees to work in a Quality and efficient way in the Histology Lab. I think we can agree that there are many obstacles and reasons why this continues to be a struggle. I believe one of the biggest hurdles is our diversity. Now, do not misunderstand me, I think diversity is important and I am a supporter, but Histology is not staffed with classically trained employees that have the same education path or a standardized procedure, protocol and technique education or training. This type of diversity creates many challenges and it will take all of our efforts to overcome them. That said what can we do today to assist in the advancement and promotion of the science of Histotechnology and most importantly, provide the needed replacements for the baby boomers (I happen to be one)?

With the advent of healthcare changes looming, laboratory testing and Histological preparation and technique will become ever more important in providing the increasing amounts of data that will allow our pathologist partners to provide a diagnosis. So, what needs to be done to train and produce the Histotechnician and Histotechnologist for the next 20 years? How do we first convince and then train the new millennial generation to work in the field of Histotechnology, while constantly trying to meet their demands for input, interaction and stimulation?

With the trend by all our companies to reduce the education dollars for us to access traditional continuing opportunities, what do you see as the alternatives? Who do you see as the primary providers of this essential information? How interactive will the material need to be? Is the internet the answer? I think time is running out and we must rethink, redesign and reconsider our education requirements and needs. Where do you get you continuing education?