Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
When patients come in for Mohs surgery or a skin biopsy, the visible part of the process is just the beginning. Behind every accurate diagnosis and successful treatment plan is a dedicated team of medical laboratory professionals—especially histotechnologists—whose work is critical to your care.
This Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, we’re proud to spotlight one of the unsung heroes of our dermatology team: Kate Goldian, our expert histotech.
What Is a Histotechnologist?
A histotechnologist, or histotech, is a highly trained laboratory professional who prepares tissue specimens for microscopic examination. In dermatology—and especially in Mohs surgery—histotechs play a crucial role in ensuring skin cancer is accurately diagnosed and removed with precision.
When a sample is removed during Mohs surgery, the tissue is immediately sent to the lab, where the histotech works quickly and carefully to:
- Embed the tissue in a supportive medium (often frozen or paraffin-based)
- Slice the tissue into incredibly thin sections using a specialized tool called a microtome or cryostat
- Stain the tissue using chemical dyes to highlight cellular structures
- Mount the sections onto microscope slides for review by the surgeon (in our case, Dr. Jeremy Udkoff)
This detailed and delicate process allows Dr. Udkoff to evaluate the tissue margins in real time—ensuring that all cancerous cells are removed while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
Meet Kate Goldian
Kate Goldian brings both technical expertise and deep dedication to her role. With years of experience in histotechnology and a passion for precision, Kate plays an essential role in every Mohs surgery we perform.
Her attention to detail, steady hands, and commitment to patient care ensure that every tissue slide is perfectly prepared. This enables Dr. Udkoff to make real-time decisions with the most accurate data possible, contributing to our high cure rates and exceptional cosmetic outcomes.
Beyond her lab coat, Kate is known around the office for her warm spirit, kindness, and love of science. She is a key part of what makes our practice thrive behind the scenes—and we’re so grateful to have her on our team.
Why Histotechs Matter
In the world of dermatology, histotechs are critical to:
- Diagnosing skin cancers and other skin conditions
- Supporting the precision and success of Mohs micrographic surgery
- Maintaining high standards of lab safety, cleanliness, and efficiency
- Ensuring rapid turnaround so patients can get answers and treatment quickly
Their work is largely unseen by patients—but it is absolutely vital to the care we provide.
As we celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, join us in thanking the histotechs, lab techs, and behind-the-scenes professionals who make accurate, effective dermatologic care possible.
And to Kate—thank you for all you do, every single day.
