Tufts Medicine today announced the appointment of Malak S. AlThgafi, MBBS-MD, MBA, a molecular and neuropathologist as well as a distinguished leader in advanced pathology practices and research, as Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC), effective September 1, 2025. She will also serve as Professor of Pathology and Neurosurgery at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM).
At Tufts MC, Dr. AlThgafi will provide strategic leadership for pathology services across the Tufts Medicine system, partnering with Lowell General Hospital and MelroseWakefield Hospital to drive clinical growth and ensure delivery of high-quality pathology and laboratory services. She will also collaborate with colleagues at TUSM to advance pathology-related research and oversee Tufts MC's strategic partnership with LabCorp for outpatient laboratory services.
"Dr. AlThgafi is yet another exceptional addition to the Tufts Medical Center leadership team," said Erika Werner, MD, President of the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization. "Her strong leadership qualities, scientific expertise, and commitment to innovation will be invaluable as we expand our pathology and laboratory medicine services and grow our precision medicine capabilities."
Dr. AlThgafi brings more than two decades of expertise in modernizing clinical operations, advancing molecular diagnostics, digital pathology and precision medicine, and fostering international collaborations. She is internationally recognized for her contributions in genomics, oncology and neuropathology, with more than 140 peer-reviewed publications, over 30 book chapters and more than 100 invited lectures delivered across 10 countries.
Prior to joining Tufts MC, Dr. AlThgafi was a Professor of Pathology, the Associate Vice Chair of International Pathology Programs, Director of the Neuropathology Services and Director of the Neuropathology Fellowship Program at Emory University Hospital and Emory School of Medicine. She has also held appointments at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her global experience includes leadership roles at King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology and King Fahad Medical City in Saudi Arabia.
"I am excited to return to the great city of Boston and to lead the accomplished Pathology and Laboratory Medicine team at Tufts Medical Center," said Dr. AlThgafi. "Together, we will advance digital pathology, precision medicine and offer the latest innovations in diagnostics and personalized treatment to the diverse patient populations we serve."
In addition to her clinical and research accomplishments, Dr. AlThgafi has pursued extensive postgraduate and executive training to strengthen her leadership and strategic impact. She earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and she is currently completing a Master of Science in Clinical Service Operations (Executive Pathway) at Harvard Medical School. She has also completed multiple executive leadership and innovation programs at Harvard Business School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Georgetown University, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and transformational leadership in healthcare.
Her research focuses on molecular genetics and neuropathology, cancer and precision diagnostics. She has served as principal investigator on multi-million-dollar research projects and has received multiple national and international awards for her work. Her recent studies in Phased Pangenome, published in Scientific Data, a Nature Portfolio Journal, highlight genomic diversity in underrepresented Asian-Arab populations.
Dr. AlThgafi is board-certified in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Molecular and Genetic Pathology and Neuropathology.
