Natacha Pagán
Chatsworth
Summary
Transformational laboratory operations leader with 23+ years of experience as a Histotechnologist and 10 years in leadership across hospital and reference lab environments. Proven track record of driving process improvemnt, LIS optimization (EPIC Beaker and CoPath), and quality standardization across multi-site laboratory operations.
Skilled in leading cross-functional initiatives that improve turnaround times, reduce error rates and enhance regulatory compliance.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Histology Lab Supervisor
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
West Hills, CA
10.2020 - Current
- Supervise technical and non-technical histology staff workflows assuring compliance with SOP’s and required regulations ensuring operational readiness. Ensures resources are efficiently utilized to maintain a customer focused operation both intra- and extra-departmentally; Provides annual performance evaluations for 25-30 staff, monitors attendance, and takes necessary discipline measures when appropriate. Edit and approve timecards in Kronos. Conduct monthly 1:1’s to build and maintain productive relationships with staff. Conduct pre-employment assessments and interviews of prospective applicants to maintain staffing model; Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less-experienced technical staff. Complete training verification and competency in MediaLab in accordance with CLIA requirements; Identify, analyze, and resolves routine work problems according to protocols and best practices. Facilitates troubleshooting, resolution and corrective action plans to bring about process improvement; Assist with managing inventory and purchasing supplies and equipment in PeopleSoft; Provides weekly, monthly and annual reports to histology manager including compilations of productivity and quality, audits, trend analysis, and suggestions for improvement; Supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organizations. Strategically analyze quarterly employee survey results to implement necessary workflow or culture change and/or address employee concerns
- Led training programs for new staff, enhancing team proficiency and performance.
Histotechnologist, PRN
Medical Pathology Associates
Houston, TX
09.2018 - Current
- Embedding, Cutting and Routine H/E Staining
Histotechnologist Supervisor
Ben Taub General Hospital
Houston, TX
04.2015 - 09.2020
- Responsible for Grossing Lab, Histology Routine Lab, Frozen Lab and Morgue/Autopsy; Perform All Routine Histology Tasks, Special Stains and Immunohistochemistry as Needed; Operates and Oversees Maintenance of All Histology Instrumentation; Responsible for Supervising and Assisting with Troubleshooting in All Areas of Histopathology to Include Grossing, Routine Histology, Special Stains, Immunohistochemistry, Frozen Sectioning and Autopsy; Coordinates and Schedules Staffing; Approves PTO Requests and Timecards; Performs Employee Competency and Annual Evaluations; Responsible for Interviewing and Hiring All Histology Personnel; Oversees QA and QC Activities including Proficiency Testing and Validation Studies; Prepares Monthly and Yearly Financial and Budgetary Reports; Develops, Implements, Revises and Enforces SOP’s; Monitors Inventory of Supplies, Equipment and Reagents; Recommends and Evaluates New Equipment for Procurement; Assists with Validation of All New Instrumentation and New Testing; Compiles and Maintains Lab Statistics; Trains New Employees, Residents and Students; Schedules Histology Personnel for Mandatory Training; Responsible for Maintaining Employee Occupational Health Compliance, Vapor Monitoring, Safety Audits, and Hazardous Chemical Inventory and Waste Management; Assists with Coordinating IRB Approved Research Requests; CAP and CMS inspection Preparedness; EPIC Beaker Build Subject Matter Expert
Histotechnologist
Baylor-CHI St. Luke’s Health
Houston, TX
04.2004 - 04.2015
- Grossing, Processing, Embedding, Microtomy and Routine H/E Staining; Manual and Automated Special Staining; Manual and Automated IHC Staining; Cryotomy; Gross Lab Assistant; Created, Updated and Maintained Quality Control Records for Frozen Section Lab, Special Stains and IHC; Reviewed and Updated SOP’s to Meet Current CAP Requirements; Assisted in EPIC Beaker Build
Histotechnologist, PRN
Full Staff INC
12.2009 - 10.2011
- Performed Frozen Sectioning and Staining of Dermatopathology Specimen in Plastic Surgeon Office
Histotechnologist, PRN
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital
Houston, TX
10.2004 - 10.2005
- Embedding, Cutting and Routine H/E Staining
Histotechnologist
Ochsner Health System
New Orleans, LA
12.2002 - 03.2004
- Processing, Embedding, Microtomy and Routine H/E Staining; Manual Special Staining Techniques; Automated IHC and IF Staining; Muscle Enzymatic Staining; Cryotomy; Gross Lab Assistant; Maintained Quality Control Records for All Special Stains and IHC; Assisted Supervisor with Auditing Pathology Requisitions for Adequate ICD-9 Coding; Assisted Supervisor in Reviewing SOP’s to Meet CAP Requirements; Input Monthly Workload Data to Monitor Slide and Block Outputs; Verified Billing Statements with Send Out Testing; Lab Week Liaison; Histology Lab Safety Committee Representative
Education
Post-Baccalaureate - Biology
Lone Star Community College
TX09.2013
Post-Baccalaureate - Biology
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA03.2000
B.S. - Chemistry
Dillard University
New Orleans, LA05.1999
Skills
- COPATH
- EPIC Beaker SuperUser, Subject Matter Expert
- Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
- Agilent Artisan Pro Special Stainer
- Agilent Omnis IHC Stainer
- Roche BenchMark Ultra IHC Stainer
- Leica Bond III IHC Stainer
Certification
- Histotechnologist (ASCP) 2002
- National Society of Histotechnology Member
- California Society of Histotechnology Member
Timeline
Histology Lab Supervisor
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
10.2020 - Current
Histotechnologist, PRN
Medical Pathology Associates
09.2018 - Current
Histotechnologist Supervisor
Ben Taub General Hospital
04.2015 - 09.2020
Histotechnologist, PRN
Full Staff INC
12.2009 - 10.2011
Histotechnologist, PRN
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital
10.2004 - 10.2005
Histotechnologist
Baylor-CHI St. Luke’s Health
04.2004 - 04.2015
Histotechnologist
Ochsner Health System
12.2002 - 03.2004
Post-Baccalaureate - Biology
University of New Orleans
B.S. - Chemistry
Dillard University
Post-Baccalaureate - Biology
Lone Star Community College
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Guest Lecturer at MD Anderson on Management, Spring 2019
- Board Member of MD Anderson, School of Health Professionals, HTL Program and Houston Community College Advisory Committee 2016-present
- Member of the MD Anderson HTL Admissions Committee, Jan 2019-present
Core Competencies
- Laboratory Operations & Workflow Optimization
- LIS Systems: Epic Beaker, CoPath
- SOP Development & Standardization
- Quality & Regulatory Compliance (CAP, CLIA)
- Data Analysis, Reporting & KPI Tracking
- Cross-functional Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Process Improvement & Lean Principles
- Instrumentation & Interface Workflow Management