Victoria “Vicky” Holtschlag, a laboratory manager in Washington University School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology and Immunology and at Siteman Cancer Center, died Sunday, June 30, 2013, from an illness. She was 58.
Holtschlag, a medical technologist, helped oversee the department’s Laboratory for Translational Pathology and Siteman’s Tissue Procurement Core for more than 13 years. For the previous 20 years, she was an instructor at the Jewish Hospital School of Medical Technology.
As a lab manager, Holtschlag supervised the collection and distribution of more than a half-million human tissue and blood specimens for cancer and other medical research studies. Many of these studies have been published in prestigious medical journals and have contributed to improved patient care.
“Her outstanding efforts and dedication to her work promoted biospecimen-based medical research across Washington University,” said Mark Watson, MD, PhD, associate professor of pathology and immunology. “Her work also honored and respected the wishes of patients who donated their specimens to improve the lives of those with cancer and other diseases.”
Holtschlag is survived by her father, Donald E. Holtschlag of Quincy, Ill.; sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Michael Druffel of Wells, Minn.; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Services were July 5 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Quincy.
Memorial donations may be made to BJC Hospice, for massage therapy.