It’s very likely that today, inside one of the Yale Pathology Laboratories, a laboratory professional, peering at a slide inside a microscope, will quietly discover a disease lurking inside a patient’s tissue. This important discovery will inform the treatment a doctor will prescribe for the patient – and, hopefully, lead to a successful outcome.
“Our laboratory professionals perform this important work every day,” said Angelique W. Levi, MD, Vice Chair of the department of pathology and Director of Outreach Programs for Yale Pathology Labs. “Join us in celebrating National Medical Laboratories Professionals Week and recognizing the astounding work our laboratory professionals do.”
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 23-29, 2023, is an annual event that highlights and shows appreciation for laboratory professionals. The theme of this year’s celebration, The Future is Lab, recognizes how lab professionals skillfully adapt to meet evolving patient care and public health challenges.
“The passion for healthcare, clinical technology, and medical research that our laboratory professionals at Yale Pathology demonstrate on a daily basis has a profound impact on the quality of patient care we provide,” said Chen Liu, MD, PhD, Chair of Yale Pathology. “We are immensely grateful for their hard work and commitment.”
For Rupa Vyas, a cytotechnologist who’s worked at Yale Pathology Labs for 24 years, it’s all about the person whose specimen is at the other end of her microscope.
“My goal is to provide the best patient care at the highest standard. I collaborate with the pathologist and ensure timely diagnosis, which allows providers to ensure appropriate treatment for the patient,” Rupa said.
Her job in the Cytology Lab requires her to wear many hats and use an array of skills to get her work done on a daily basis.
“Attention to detail is very critical as every case presents an entirely new scenario with its unique challenges and family history,” she said. “What I love about my job is that I know I play a vital role in saving lives one cell at a time, and what I find on a patient’s sample make an impact on their overall health and well-being.”
Alice Walker, a histotechnologist in the Immunohistochemistry Lab, shares the same motivation.
“We’re helping countless people, and, in that way, we play a critical role in the health field,” she said. “We help the physician diagnose and treat diseases.”
Alice agrees the job requires focus and a never-ending attention to detail.
“You have to welcome that challenge that comes every day when we come to work,” she said. “When you leave here, hopefully you have that satisfaction of knowing that we’re saving lives today and you walk out with a happy face.”