Advisory Board Spotlight: Celebrating M. Lamar Jones, BS, HTL(ASCP)CM

 

Madison Heights, MI – [November 25, 2025] – Mopec is proud to highlight M. Lamar Jones, a distinguished Histologist, educator, and leader whose 54-year career has helped shape generations of laboratory professionals. Lamar has served as a Histopathology Laboratory Director, is the current HT Education Coordinator for the Histotechnology Program at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, and is the sitting President of the National Society for Histotechnology. His lifelong commitment to the advancement of tissue science and laboratory excellence continues to inspire the pathology community. 

 

Lamar’s journey into pathology began remarkably early. At just 13 years old, he received his first microscope and a small set of slides from his parents, a gift that sparked immediate curiosity and set the foundation for a career defined by exploration and discovery. That early fascination grew as he experimented with chemistry and laboratory techniques, eventually leading him to a university-based histology laboratory in 1972. Originally majoring in medicine with plans to attend medical school, Lamar found himself increasingly drawn to histotechnology during his studies at the University of Tennessee Medical Units in Memphis. Immersed in both histology and pathology, he recognized the depth and impact of the field: the study of disease, cancer, surgical and autopsy pathology, forensics, and the microscopic world he had loved since childhood. 

After earning his HT certification in 1977, Lamar expanded his expertise by grossing surgical specimens under the guidance of his pathologist, participating in tumor boards, and connecting clinical findings with microscopic evaluation. His career grew alongside the field itself, spanning microbiology, hematology, cytology, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and eventually molecular pathology. His ability to synthesize these disciplines has made him a trusted educator, mentor, and thought leader for more than five decades. 

 

 

Lamar’s contributions to the profession extend far beyond the bench. He has been an active member of the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH) since 1983, serving in numerous leadership roles, including President (2025), Vice President (1996–1998), Speaker of the House of Delegates (1988–1996), and NSH’s Representative to the Biological Stain Commission (1996–2004). He is also a long-standing member of the Biological Stain Commission, where he served as Trustee from 2004–2021. 

His passion for education is equally evident. Lamar has established three HT programs and one HTL program, taught pathology residents as a clinical instructor, and trained countless professionals in grossing, autopsy techniques, and forensic pathology. His achievements in teaching and leadership have earned him multiple honors, including the J.B. McCormick, MD Award, the NSH Histotechnologist of the Year Award, and invitations to give Department of Pathology Grand Rounds and distinguished Lectureships in Teaching. 

 

 

Beyond the laboratory, Lamar is known for his curiosity and love of history. He is an avid collector of antique microscopes and microscope slides, a passion that reflects his deep appreciation for the roots of the profession. He is also a dedicated Titanic collector, a unique hobby that mirrors his fascination with preservation, discovery, and historical storytelling. 

Today, Lamar brings this extraordinary breadth of knowledge to the Mopec Advisory Board. He values the environment of exploration, “brainstorming” new methodologies, identifying needs within the laboratory, and contributing insights that ultimately support better tools, better workflows, and better patient care. The interdisciplinary nature of the Board aligns naturally with his belief that pathology thrives when all facets of the diagnostic process come together.

Lamar is equally energized by the future of the profession. To him, the field remains limitless, full of opportunities to push boundaries, strengthen patient outcomes, and inspire the next generation of laboratory professionals. With emerging advancements in automation, digital pathology, artificial intelligence, spatial biology, molecular diagnostics, and enhanced laboratory safety, he sees a future full of possibility and innovation. 

Mopec is honored to have Lamar’s voice, experience, and enthusiasm within our Advisory Board. His passion for science, education, and the people behind this work reflects the heart of our shared mission: advancing pathology through innovation, collaboration, and unwavering dedication to the study of disease.