Michelle Duey

I’ve always been fascinated by medicine. And after losing my grandfather to cancer, I really wanted to learn more about that disease. At the time, I didn’t realize there were other jobs in the healthcare industry besides doctors and nurses, so I set my sights on medical school.

I started working toward my bachelor’s degree in microbiology and intended to go to medical school after graduating. But during my junior year, I took a class about laboratory medicine where I learned about all the testing and behind-the-scenes work. A speaker came to our class and told us about cytology — a branch of biology that focuses on the purpose and behavior of cells. I started looking into cytology careers and realized this was the path for me. Since all living things are made of cells, this seemed like a rewarding and exciting career.

After earning my bachelor’s degree, I attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Allied Health Professions and completed the cytology program. Then, I passed the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification exam to become licensed to practice.

Now, I’m a cytotechnologist at Stormont Vail Health Center. I look at cells under a microscope to search for anything that looks off or not normal. These abnormalities could be cancerous or could cause patients harm. I also help clinicians during different procedures to make sure everything is done as well as possible and to help us have what we need back in the lab.

I love that I get to give patients answers. Not knowing what’s going on in your body can be stressful, so I enjoy being like a detective and helping people uncover any problems or giving them good news. I also enjoy not needing to work nights, weekends or holidays!

If you’re interested in this field, start researching as soon as you can! There are so many jobs in hospitals beyond just doctors and nurses. Look into all of the career possibilities in a lab or clinical setting and find out what is best for you.