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For immediate release:  May 15, 2007 (Clyde, NC)

HRMC Laboratory Staff Educates & Fundraises for Cancer Research

May 13 marked the birthday of George Papanicolaou, whose discovery in 1920 of tumor cells in bodily fluids led to the development of the papsmear and other forms of cytology. Cytology is the branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure and function of cells. Cytologists have Bachelors Degrees and an additional year of study at a Cytology school in order to perform their duties.

“There are approximately 11,000 cytologists in the country, said Haywood Regional Medical Center’s Kim Leister, CT (ASCP). “It’s important for people in our community to know that HRMC is forward thinking enough to have someone in my profession in a community of this size.” Leister is a board certified cytotechnologist, credentialed by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

“In relation to pathology, we microscopically study and assist the pathologist with diagnosis of exfoliated and aspirated specimens,” Leister said. “We are practicing state of the art tests, such as the liquid based pap, which has taken over as the norm from slide tests formerly performed.”

Leister, a cytologist since 1973 and a cancer survivor, said that she hopes that people in Haywood County will continue to donate generously to programs such as Relay for Life so that more people in our community will have access to timely, quality based cancer care.

Cancer survivors HRMC Cytologist Kim Leister, CT, Pathology Secretary/ Transcriptionist Nancy Harper, and Chemistry Supervisor Melanie Newsome all did their part to raise awareness of the importance of cancer research, early diagnosis and Relay for Life by baking cupcakes and selling them to hospital staff and visitors on May 14.