PEERS RECOGNIZE A KEEN EYE STATE GROUP HONORS AREA CYTOTECHNOLOGIST.

Byline: Daily News

VALENCIA - What Barry Staymates sees beneath his microscope - and how he interprets his findings - carries an enormous human impact.

A cytotechnologist at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Staymates studies cells for cancer, pre-cancerous lesions, infections and other diseases.

And according to his peers, he's an expert.

For his talents in the field, Staymates, the hospital's pathology manager, was honored by his peers. He was named Cytotechnologist of the Year by the California Association of Cytotechnologists.

``He's brilliant and has the best eye for evaluating cells,'' said Dr. Barbara Florentine, medical director of Newhall Memorial's pathology department. ``He really cares about the profession and has made our cytopathology department one of the best among community hospitals.''

The award was offered for Staymates' contributions and dedication to the field, said Po Chu Fung, former president of the association.

``It's been a really rewarding career for me already,'' Staymates said, adding that the plaque now hangs in his home office. ``I'm really honored to be getting this award. It's great to be recognized by your peers.''

A cytotechnologist studies patients' specimens. He or she often issues the final report on specimens that contain normal cells. When abnormal cells are present, the case is referred to a pathologist, a physician trained in cell interpretation.

Florentine said she recruited Staymates in 2000 to help the hospital start a fine needle aspiration walk-in clinic in its ambulatory care center.

That technique is used to diagnose lumps or masses that can be felt or seen - such as on the breast, thyroid, salivary gland or lymph nodes. During the outpatient procedure, a fine needle aspirates a small sample of cells from the area of concern. Cells are later examined to determine whether malignant cells are present.

Staymates graduated from Seattle University, then served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He received cytology training during his stint in the Army at Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and later worked at an Army hospital in Tacoma, Wash.

After his discharge from the service, he moved to Southern California where he started the cytology department and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange for 27 years before joining Newhall Memorial.

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Barry Staymates of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital was named Cytotechnologist of the Year by his peers.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer