She is the lead Pathologists’ Assistant in the Department of Pathology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She works under the supervision of the pathologist and performs dissection of surgical organs and post mortem examinations (autopsies). Every day, she uses her training to help diagnose and stage cancer, identify infections, and recognize disease processes with surgical organs. While performing autopsies, she aids the pathologist in determining the cause of death. She even has a collection of medical oddities that she is proud to show off to her students and guests. Pathologists’ Assistant is not just a job title for her--it is her life. Anyone could pick up on that from her infectious enthusiasm when she talks of her career.
Who is she? She is Nicole Qualtieri. She is who many jokingly call the real Abby Sciuto, the character portrayed by Pauley Perette on CBS TV series NCIS. Obviously, Nicole is not Goth like Abby, nor does she even occasionally sleep in a coffin. But the similarities that exist between the two are uncanny. Nicole’s youthful pale skin, asphalt-black Betty Page locks, pallid lab coat and kaleidoscope of tattoos make her Abby’s oddly fascinating doppelganger. The two not only have similar physical attributes, their professions are equally similar. Like Abby, Nicole has a passionate fixation on death, and her pursuit of its causes is relentless.
Despite her outstanding credentials, such as a Bachelor of Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Cytotechnology, Masters of Science from Drexel University as a Pathologists' Assistant, lead Pathologists' assistant for over eight years at Thomas Jefferson University (in charge of Surgical Pathology Gross Room and Autopsy Service), Adjunct Professor at Thomas Jefferson University for Bioscience Technology Program, Adjunct Professor at Drexel University for Pathologists' Assistant Program, and Vice Chair of Education for the AAPA (American Association for Pathologists’ Assistants), Nicole’s success story was not as simple as it sounds. Her triumph was a struggle.
Like many other unfortunate of teens in America, Nicole became pregnant in high school, and received her GED. She did typical menial jobs like pizza delivery and telemarketing. She even went to cosmetology school, but could not quite find her place in the beauty industry. She felt she needed to do something more challenging. She wanted something to move her soul. She wanted to feel like she was making a real change in the world. It was not until reaching this point in her life that a close friend inspired her to focus on academia. After this epiphany, and with a newborn love for all things science, she graduated from her local community college, taking the first step down the road to where she is today. Not too shabby for a 31 year old single mother.
Even though Nicole established her niche in academia and science, it certainly did not make her into a bookworm. Outside of work she loves modeling for photography, doing makeup, spending time with family and friends, eating delicious foods from small cozy restaurants in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City, and most importantly, cherishing moments with her teenage daughter and best friend, Maria. Maria is an aspiring photographer and has a love for all things in the field of chemistry. She has immense dreams of one day becoming a pharmacist. The apple defiantly did not fall too far from the tree.
So if ever you are on Thomas Jefferson University’s campus and you see a tall, thin, raven-haired beauty covered in stunning rainbow-colored tattoos, don’t judge her appearance--she may just be your kid’s professor. Say hello--she’s not as intimidating as she looks and loves chatting with people!
Words by Max Moya
Images by Ken Penn