New Jersey Association of Cytology History

Charles E. Thompson organized "The New Jersey Association of Cytotechnologists" in 1972 .

A steering committee was formed with Charles E. Thompson as Chairman, Brenda A. Markovits-Coupe as Vice-Chairman, Eileen Jauch as Secretary, Blanche E. Miller as Treasurer,Diane F. Novello as Asst. Secretary, Norma Begley as Program Chairman, and Anne Barbetti as Liaison Officer.

A constitution was drafted and the officers were elected for a two-year term by the members.

A group of Physicians was asked to serve on "The New Jersey Association of Cytotechnologists' Advisory Committee". Several members of the advisory committee have conducted seminars, workshops, and given financial support to the organizations' programs.

The organizations' name was later changed to "The New Jersey Association of Cytology" so that Pathologists as well as other members would be a part of it, which is what the association has always intended.

The Cytology "Student of the Year Award" was started by Susan Maris and Janet Marcus, who formulated the rules while in office. The first winner was Sharon Wilkinson from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tony Kostecky, who served as President of the New Jersey Association of Cytology, strove with dedication and perseverance to keep our organization growing. So to honor him, after his passing in 1986, knowing that education was foremost in his mind, the cytology "Student of the Year Award" was renamed the "Antonin Kostecky Student of the Year Award".

After many years of conducting the annual workshop in Atlantic City, the Association, with Saif Hashmi as President, moved the location of the meeting upon the suggestions of the Executive Board and the members.

In June 1998, the seminar / symposium was held at the Ocean Place Hilton Resort in Long Branch, New Jersey. The 1999 annual meeting took place at the Sheraton Suites at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, New Jersey.

In June 2000, the New Jersey Association of Cytology, with Anthony Carroll as President, celebrated the millennium by cosponsoring it's annual workshop with the Greater New York Association of Cytology and the Delaware Valley Society of Cytology at the Holiday Inn Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ.

The New Jersey Association was pleased to present in May 2001 the first of what has become a series of cytology lectures at Quest Diagnostics in Teterboro, NJ.

During 2001, the NJAC joined the world of modern communications by establishing its first web site under the supervision of the current president, Christine Mager.

The New Jersey Association of Cytology marked its' 30th Anniversary in 2002 and continues its dedication to the motto "Quality through Learning" and its commitment to serving the educational interests of its members.