Wake Forest histology leader Tammy Sexton recognized for decades of research support

Influential Women is spotlighting Tammy Sexton, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine histology specialist whose 42-year career has supported cancer and non-cancer research through tissue processing, staining, and lab leadership. Her work reflects the growing importance of technical expertise, mentorship, and continual learning in medical research.

Why it matters: - Tammy Sexton’s work helps researchers turn tissue samples into usable data for clinical trials and basic science studies. - Her career shows how specialized histology expertise supports publication timelines, grant deadlines, and long-running medical research programs. - The profile also highlights a changing field, where molecular and genomic testing are expanding the role of histology professionals.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Tammy Sexton, a Research Assistant and HT (ASCP) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. - Sexton manages the Tumor Tissue Pathology Shared Resource Core in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. - The feature says Sexton has worked in the field for more than four decades, including a 42-year career at Wake Forest. - The profile was published in connection with her Influential Women profile, linked here: More information.

The details: - Sexton’s lab work includes tissue processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, immunohistochemistry, tissue microarrays, and genomics-related research. - The core supports both clinical research trials and basic science projects. - Her early career began in the early 1980s after she earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology with a minor in chemistry from Appalachian State University. - What started as a part-time histology role became full-time work after a supervisor encouraged her to stay and help launch the histology core. - Her research background has included cholera studies in microbiology, physiology and pharmacology work on drug abuse, and comparative pathology projects involving atherosclerosis. - Sexton helped build the Cancer Center-supported histology core into one of the institution’s most heavily used shared resources. - She also received mentoring from the pathologist who started the lab and later broadened her skills through Mohs training encouraged by a relative. - At Wake Forest, Sexton has trained and supported students, technicians, and postdoctoral researchers. - Her work focuses on understanding investigators’ goals and choosing the right approach for each project.

Between the lines: - The profile frames histology as more than a clinical support function; it is part of the infrastructure that makes research possible. - Sexton’s emphasis on continual learning reflects a broader shift in biomedical research, where traditional staining now sits alongside molecular and genomic methods. - Her comments suggest the field may need stronger pipelines for people who combine clinical training with research experience. - The piece also points to ongoing pressure in research settings, including funding instability and staffing shortages, even as demand for specialized expertise remains high.

What's next: - Sexton says histology professionals will need to keep adapting as molecular and genomic testing becomes more common. - She encourages young women entering science to stay curious and keep building new skills. - The profile suggests more awareness of research-side histology roles could help draw new talent into the field. - Wake Forest’s histology core is likely to remain an important support unit as research programs continue to rely on fast, accurate tissue analysis.

The bottom line: - Tammy Sexton’s career shows how technical leadership, mentorship, and adaptability can have a lasting impact on medical research.