John Phillips

Qualifications

Overview

Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science was attained in 1978 on successfully obtaining a pass in the Special Examination in Histopathology and Chartered Scientist status followed with the Science Council.

The specialist knowledge acquired after examination allowed progression through the ranks to Head Biomedical Scientist status within the department. John has held this position since 1985 and is showing the strain.

In 1982 John was asked to set up a histology lab in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and so spent two months there commissioning equipment and performing histology and cytology preparatory techniques for the resident histopathologist. He reluctantly declined a full time position there in order to pursue his career in Wrexham.

John has experience in many histological techniques to include not only routine paraffin histological techniques but also electron microscopy, semi thin resin sectioning techniques and immunohistochemistry. In 2005 he was offered the opportunity to train in-house as a dissector of tissue specimens of certain pathological category. After two years training under the supervision of a pathologist colleague and on submission of a training portfolio John successfully passed the RCPath and IBMS Advanced Practioner Diploma in Histological Dissection.

John is from Wrexham, and lives in Gresford. He was a keen amateur football player but now has to settle for watching his 18 year old son run around the football pitch. Many interests have come and gone including Ju-Jitsu, Tai Chi and Kung Fu. Since school he has tried to learn German and is now pretty good at ordering beer when on holiday. He desperately tries to play guitar but should really give up trying. 

A recent success however has been with Rhos Orpheus Male Voice Choir. John has been a member of the bottom base section for two years and loves learning and taking part. What could be better than singing "Men of Harlech" in a Welsh Choir to an English audience!