It is with great sadness that we share the news that Mrs. Hazel Dalton has passed away.  Mrs. Dalton was a true friend, mentor, and advocate for so many in the histology field.  As Program Director of the histology program at UTHealth MD Anderson School of Health Sciences, where I first met her, she had and lived out an endless passion for teaching.  She treated her students as if they were one of her own and always had their best interest at heart.  She was always, always an advocate for learning everything you can and a huge proponent of staying involved in your career field by joining professional organizations and gaining knowledge through continuing education programs.  And she LIVED this advice.  I cannot think of a time when she did not attend our Texas Society for Histotechnology symposium/convention.  Her dedication to her career, the patients that that career served, her students, friends, and family was touching, and she will be greatly missed.

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I will never forget a piece of advice that Mrs. Dalton told me and my fellow classmates when I was going through the histology program – I paraphrase – “Never, ever forget that behind every block you are cutting, there is a patient behind that block.  If you ever forget that, it is time to move on.”

Rest in peace, Mrs. Hazel Dalton.  You will be missed, and we will do our best to carry on your legacy and make you proud by always remaining “a student”.