Association for Molecular Pathology Honors Dartmouth Health Director for Long Leadership

Laura J. Tafe, M.D., a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, has been selected for the Association for Molecular Pathology’s (AMP) 2026 Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award. The honor recognizes exceptional leadership that advances AMP’s mission in molecular diagnostics.

AMP represents professionals who develop and perform molecular testing used to guide diagnosis, treatment, and disease monitoring. In a field where laboratory decisions can directly affect clinical outcomes, leadership is closely tied to scientific rigor, education, and community-wide standards for quality.

Tafe is known for expertise spanning thoracic and gynecologic cancers and for applying molecular diagnostics to improve patient stratification. She leads the Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technologies (CGAT) at Dartmouth Hitchcock and directs the molecular tumor board at the Dartmouth Cancer Center, where genomic findings are translated into actionable clinical insights.

Her work reflects a broader shift in oncology: moving from single-gene assumptions toward multigene, high-dimensional profiles that capture tumor heterogeneity. In practice, this requires careful interpretation frameworks, laboratory validation strategies, and continuous coordination between clinicians and molecular testing experts.

“I attended my first AMP meeting as a resident and was immediately smitten with the organization and the field of molecular diagnostics,” Tafe said, describing how the community shaped her professional path. She joined AMP in 2007 and later contributed nearly continuously through committees and elected roles, culminating in serving as AMP president in 2023.

Beyond organizational service, Tafe has contributed to AMP’s scientific output by reviewing papers for The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics since 2010. AMP leadership emphasizes not only governance, but also technical stewardship—helping ensure that education and standards evolve alongside emerging assays and analytical methods.

AMP Chief Executive Officer Laurie Menser, CAE, said Tafe’s leadership has strengthened educational programming, strategic initiatives, and the organization’s culture. Menser highlighted her commitment to mentoring future leaders as the field rapidly advances.

The Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award is named for the late Jeffrey A. Kant, M.D., Ph.D., one of AMP’s founding members, its first president, and the first recipient of the AMP Leadership Award. Tafe will receive the award and a medallion at the AMP 2026 Annual Meeting & Expo in November in Seattle.