Photo By Keisha Frith | Some members of the Womack Army Medical Center Department of Pathology team pose for a...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, NC-- When patients visit Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) and the outlying clinics, they typically interact with doctors, nurses, and technicians. However, operating entirely behind the scenes is a dedicated Pathology Department that forms the diagnostic backbone of WAMC. As one team member noted regarding the scope of their work, "We put out results and those results aid in producing up to 80% of the diagnostic results or helping with diagnosis on the floor,” said Phylicia Wright, Blood Bank technician. From analyzing routine blood work to standing by in the operating room, these unseen professionals are responsible for the data that guides critical medical decisions.
For a patient experiencing severe trauma, every second counts. The Blood Bank is responsible for preparing units of blood to replenish massive volume loss during emergencies. While they maintain universal O-negative and O-positive blood for immediate and critical situations, like a car accident or gunshot wound, they also perform meticulous typing and screening for routine patients, such as those undergoing oncology treatments or cesarean, ensuring every patient gets exactly what their body needs.
Thousands of samples flow through the Specimen Processing and Chemistry sections daily. Utilizing a mix of highly advanced automation and manual testing, this team delivers the essential metrics providers need. Medical Laboratory Scientist, Monica Meacham sums up their mission perfectly:"We are diagnostics, so basically, we are helping with the treatments, and medications. We run critical diagnostics like troponin levels to detect heart attacks, pregnancy tests before surgeries, and various organ function panels.”
Working alongside them is the Hematology team, which perform labs that encompass tests that evaluate blood cells, coagulation, and blood-forming organs to diagnose and monitor blood disorders. Themain mission of hematologyis to assist in diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as anemia, leukemia, infections, bleeding disorders, and bone marrow abnormalities. As senior Tech, Rey Ado explains, “We are the first line of checks prior to the pathologists doing their full analysis of the potential abnormalities that our beneficiaries may have.” When it comes to infectious diseases, the Microbiology section steps in. Supervisor Angela Noles describes their vital role:"We look at different sources, types of samples, to just see what bacteria is growing, and then we do sensitivity testing to tell doctors what medicines will be most effective."
None of these critical results would reach the patient without the dedicated administrative and transcription team. They manage the flow of data, track external test results, and ensure that the patient portal is meticulously updated. Transcriptionist Linda Regan takes deep pride in this connection to the mission, stating,"I don't have hands-on training with the patient, but what I do on a daily basis is like I am there with the patient. Even though I'm behind the scenes, I still do a lot for patient care."
Perhaps the most hidden gem of the hospital is the Anatomic Pathology department, which includes Histopathology and Cytology. The Histology team processes all physical tissues removed from the body, meticulously cutting and staining them for microscopic review. One of the Histology supervisors, Brandy Cristante highlights the gravity of their work:"A lot of people don't realize what we do or how they get their diagnosis, whether it’s normal or malignant."Their standards have even earned them the title of an Anatomic Pathology Center of Excellence, taking on diagnostic work for other military treatment facilities.
Meanwhile, Cytotechnologists take their expertise directly to the operating room. Scrubbing in alongside surgeons and pulmonologists, they evaluate cellular samples in real-time. "We look at the sample under the microscope while the patient is on the table to tell the doctor if they’re in the right spot. If we aren't there to give adequacy they might stop too early and must call the patient back for a second, uncomfortable procedure,” explained Alexandra Wise, cytologist.
By verifying that a sample is adequate right then and there, they prevent the surgeon from taking too little tissue. From the first drop of blood to the final pathology report, the WAMC Pathology Department remains the silent, steadfast foundation of modern military medicine. They prove that you don’t always have to be at the bedside to save a life.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2026 16:31 |
| Story ID: | 563556 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Hidden Heroes of Patient Diagnosis at WAMC, by Keisha Frith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
