Victoria Schmidt
Victoria Schmidt is a highly experienced Mohs technologist based in Centereach, New York, with a career spanning more than two decades in dermatologic histotechnology. She specializes in preparing and analyzing frozen tissue sections used in Mohs micrographic surgery, a precise technique for treating skin cancer. Known for her consistency and technical skill, Victoria has worked across multiple respected practices on Long Island and in the New York area, including long-term roles in private dermatology offices and specialty surgical centers.
Her career began in histology shortly after completing her training at SUNY Cobleskill, where she studied histotechnology and later earned her bachelor’s degree in science from Empire State University. Starting in hospital-based laboratory settings, she built a strong foundation in tissue processing before transitioning into Mohs surgery, where she developed advanced expertise in frozen-section preparation. Over the years, she has worked in both hospital environments and major dermatology groups, eventually moving into independent consulting while continuing to serve private practices across Long Island.
Victoria is widely respected by physicians for her precision and reliability, often receiving direct recognition for the quality of her work in the operating setting. She currently works part-time across several practices and remains part of a close professional network of Mohs technologists who support one another in scheduling and coverage. As she approaches retirement after more than 30 years in the field, she is considering continuing her impact through consulting work, particularly in helping laboratories prepare for regulatory and inspection standards.
• State Certification in Clinical Laboratory Technologist
• Cerification Clinicial Laboratory Technologist
• Empire State University of New York- B.S.
• SUNY Cobleskill- A.A.S.
• National Mohs Society
• Donor to SUNY College of Cobleskill
What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to the college I went to, SUNY College of Cobleskill. That program was such the right ticket to get to where I wanted to go. I still donate to that school because it gave me such a solid foundation. The other key has been networking myself, networking with other people. Meeting the right people at work, at the hospital, people who liked me and took me from histology and asked, 'Hey, you want to learn how to do Mohs?' That networking has definitely helped me throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say you have to go to the SUNY College of Cobleskill. Absolutely, 100%. That's the school you've got to go to. It's a great school and that program is good, it's great. I really feel strongly about it. I'm part of their alumni and I even did a whole feature for a book they made because I have no problem promoting it. It definitely wasn't my dream school and I didn't enjoy the smell or anything of that whole area, but it was the right program. It would have been nice to find one on Long Island, but that wasn't happening. The key is to get your state certification, because as long as you can get your state certification, opportunities are endless. So many opportunities. I get offered at least three jobs per day, easily, if not more. That's why I got my niece into it. She's working on getting her state certification now, and once she has that, she'll be working and I'll get her jobs.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunities are endless as long as you have your state certification. So many opportunities. I get offered at least three jobs per day, easily, if not more, and that's just from Long Island, not even from my network with my Mohs techs. It's crazy. The challenge is that this is a dying field. They're really having trouble because most people are around my age and they're thinking about retiring, which is what I'm thinking about doing in another year. My doctors don't want me to retire. They're trying to get me to stay, telling my husband to go retire and leave me here for three more days. Once the doctor gets comfortable with you, they really just don't want you to go. The need is so high and it's so specialized. There's only a couple of schools that are accredited by the state to get your state license, and there's nothing on Long Island. The school I went to, Cobleskill, needed a teacher when the person who taught me was retiring, and they wanted to hire me, but I couldn't go upstate from Long Island. And it doesn't pay well to teach, so that's another issue.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are showing up and doing what's expected. Being on time is critical. Working hard and being the best you can be when you're expected to be at work. Doing your time and doing the hard work, because it pays off at the end. I believe in giving your all during your work time and maintaining that commitment and excellence.