Fall 2023 Newsletter
ASMH Newsletter • Volume 28 Issue 2 • Fall 2023
President's Message
Greetings ASMH members,
I hope everyone has had a great year so far. While I missed seeing everyone in person this year at the Annual Meeting, the Virtual Meeting was successful. I would like to thank the Program Committee for their hard work on the 2023 Virtual Meeting. I would also like to thank all the speakers for donating their time and expertise. The 2024 Program Committee is hard at work creating an amazing program for the 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held in Phoenix, Arizona at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown on May 3-4, 2024. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
The 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient was Linda Cesario. Linda has been a member of ASMH for 23 years. She has served on the board for several terms during her many years as a member. Linda chaired the Mohs Tech program for the ASMH for many years and has also been on the program committee. Congratulations Linda! Thank you for everything you do for our society.
The Advanced Mohs Tech Training Program has had a very successful year. There will be more training sessions in the new year. The dates and locations are January 25-26, 2024 at Mercedes Scientific and March 7-8, 2024 at the Avantik Academy Mohs Tech Training Center. Look for more dates in our email and social media communications. This is a great way to learn new skills, best practices for procedures, and current regulations. The ASMH is also looking for new trainers. If you are interested, please review the requirements and apply on our website. You may also contact Linda Cesario or Dan Gong for more information.
I would like to introduce our newest committee, the Webinar Committee! The first webinar will be available in the beginning of 2024. The Webinar Committee will develop webinars that will continue building new skills, explaining procedures, and detailing current regulations. The ASMH has many different committees and we are always looking for volunteers. This is a great way to get more involved in our society. If interested, please contact us at info@mohstech.org.
The ASMH is growing and we are continuing working hard to make this society the best it can be. Membership dues can now be paid online. Please don’t forget to renew your memberships. We can’t keep our society alive without all of our members and their continued support!
Sincerely,
Lindsey E. Riggs, HTL
ASMH, President 2022-24
Save the Date for the 30th Annual Meeting!
The 30th Annual Meeting will be in person in Phoenix, Arizona on May 3-4 and we’re very excited to see everyone! The ASMH Annual Meeting website will have the Preliminary Program and other information added as the details are finalized. Registration will open in December. Emails and social media posts with the registration details will be shared later this year.
January 2024 Advanced Mohs Tech Training
Registration for the next ASMH Advanced Mohs Technician Training Program is now open. Training will take place at Mercedes Scientific in Lakewood Ranch, Florida on Thursday, January 25 - Friday, January 26. Advanced Mohs Tech training offers a customized, hands-on learning experience. Upon completion, trainees will be able to claim 12 CEUs through the National Society for Histotechnology and will receive a certificate of completion from the ASMH/ACMS. Register today.
Distinguished Service Award
Linda Cesario, DPM, HT(ASCP)
Vice President 2022-24
I was honored to receive the ASMH Distinguished Service Award at the virtual 2023 Annual Meeting and would like to sincerely thank ASMH president, Lindsey Riggs, and the board of directors for bestowing this distinguished honor upon me.
I am humbled to receive this award and grateful for the acknowledgment of my years of service to this wonderful society. I have enjoyed every year of my 17 years as a board member. And my years as director of the ASMH Mohs Tech Training Program have been rewarding beyond my expectations. Education has always been my passion. I am so thrilled that our once infant program (the little engine that could) has grown into a such a great resource for many techs, whether they’re new or seasoned.
The ASMH has been such an integral part of my Mohs career and I am grateful to be a part of a community of exceptional healthcare professionals and most importantly for all the friendships I have gained along the way.
I look forward to my continued service to the ASMH and helping to make a positive impact in the field of Mohs Histotechnology.
Once again, thank you to all for this incredible honor.
Linda Cesario, DPM, HT(ASCP)
2024 ASMH Board of Directors Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now being accepted for one (1) position on the Board of Directors. In early 2024, the membership will elect one (1) Director for the 2024 term. Board terms will begin at the conclusion of the 2024 Annual Meeting. The Director will serve a three-year term concluding at the 2027 Annual Meeting. A description of the duties for this position can be found here.
Nominations will be accepted until January 12, 2024 and should be sent, faxed, or e-mailed to the ASMH office. Self-nominations are accepted. Elections will take place via electronic voting which will begin in February 2024. To send a nomination or ask a question about the nomination process, contact info@mohstech.org.
Think about someone who you feel is qualified for this position and ask them to serve – or nominate yourself. A nomination form, a well as a description of the duties for these two positions, can be found here.
ASMH Mohs Technician Training 2023
Linda Cesario, DPM, HT(ASCP)
Director, ASMH Mohs Technician Training Program
The ASMH Mohs Tech training program has had an eventful year. Beginning in January, the program was hosted by Mercedes Medical in Lakewood Ranch, FL. Trainees from across the country learned about grossing, inking, various embedding methods, cryosectioning, staining, CLIA and much more. Many technical pearls were shared as well as troubleshooting every aspect of Mohs. And of course, our adorable Mercedes mascot, Ms. Miggy Mohs, was there cheering us on.
In March, the training event took place at the Avantik Academy in Pine Brook, NJ during Histology Professionals Day. The trainees experienced two full days of informative lectures in combination with hands-on instruction. Q&A sessions, networking and the ASMH Mohs Tech training manual are also invaluable components of the training program. Besides the comprehensive lectures and hands-on education there were games and prizes in celebration of our profession. Fun and education are a great combo!
In June, the ACMS-approved training faculty headed back to Mercedes Scientific in Florida for another sold out event. Mercedes Scientific is a Dog-Friendly workplace. Besides seeing Ms. Miggy Mohs, seeing lots of canine friends always creates a comfortable environment to learn and network with one another.
In September, the training program returned to the Avantik Academy in NJ for another successful educational event. A combination of diverse didactics and hands-on training made for a very informative opportunity for attendees to further learn the art of Mohs technology. Open discussions led to very interesting and valuable knowledge.
All attendees received 12 CEU’s through the NSH and a certificate of attendance upon completion of the trainings bearing the distinguished logos of the ASMH and the ACMS. We are the only Mohs training program approved by the Mohs College.
The ASMH would like to acknowledge and thank the vendors for their continued support in facilitating educational opportunities for Mohs techs.
If you missed one of the 2023 ASMH trainings, look for the 2024 ASMH training program schedule coming soon to the ASMH website. Looking forward to seeing you then!
Linda Cesario, DPM, HT(ASCP)
Member Resources
Volunteer for a Committee
Interested in volunteering with ASMH? Willing to offer your talents to help strengthen the society? We want you! Click here to submit an interest form.
ASMH Online Bibliography
The ASMH bibliography is your resource and we strongly encourage you to explore it. Efforts will be made to keep the articles up to date and relevant to current best practices while keeping the scope wide enough to interest the broadest of minds. It is our intention to cover subjects ranging from basic lab techniques, Mohs embedding, cryotomy, routine and immunohistochemical staining, lab safety, ethics and work flow. This is a continually evolving project that will be guided by your feedback, suggestions and more importantly, your contributions, so please share interesting articles and send topic suggestions to info@mohstech.org.
Go to the bibliography to find new COVID-19 resources: Laboratory Biosafety & Coronavirus Disinfection in Histopathology.
Showcase your ASMH membership in your online profile
Members are encouraged to download and use this graphic in your email signature, on your social media profile or added to your professional online presence. Please remember that you may not, in any way, alter, manipulate or change this graphic. Contact info@mohstech.org should you have any questions about proper use.
Note to ASMH 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.