Dr. Tavassoli graduated from St Louis University School of Medicine in 1972. She remained in St Louis, MO. for her training in Anatomic Pathology at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine and a subsequent fellowship in Gynecologic Pathology at St John’s Mercy Medical Center. She then joined the Department of Breast and Gynecologic Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) where she started as staff pathologist, subsequently became vice chairman and, ultimately, chairman of that department in 1993. About 10 years later, she joined the Department of Pathology at Yale University as professor of Pathology and Director of the Women’s Health (Breast and Gynecologic Pathology) program. She retired from Yale as an emeritus professor in 2016, but she remains active giving lectures and courses around the world and working on research projects.
Dr. Tavassoli is the author of two editions of "Pathology of the Breast" (1993 & 1999), Co-editor of the World Health Organization’s classification of tumors, "Pathology & Genetics, Tumors of the Breast and the Female Genital Tract" (2003) as well as co-author of AFIP Atlas of Tumor Pathology, 4th series, “Tumors of the Mammary Gland” (2009). In addition, she has published over 220 articles in medical journals and multiple chapters in various books.
Professional Honors and Recognition Awards
- Top 2000 Outstanding Scientists, 1999
- Cylinder of Cyrus Award from Encyclopedia Iranica as a Distinguished Woman in Medicine, 2003
- Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award, at the 3rd Vienna Breast Surgery Day, March 2017
- Recipient of the Fourth Annual WAD Anderson Award given by the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, February 2014
- Best Doctors in America- for many years and current
- Lifetime member of Who is Who
