When asked about her motivation to become a doctor, Cristina Magi-Galluzzi does not hesitate to say that since the age of five, it was what she wanted to do. “I wanted to be a doctor my entire life.”
Her upbringing and family influenced her tremendously to become what she is today—a world-renowned expert genitourinary pathologist and Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair in Pathology in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Pathology. Here is the story of Magi-Galluzzi’s distinguished career and incredible achievements.
It started in Italy
Magi-Galluzzi came from a small coastal town of 1,500 residents in Italy. “I owe everything I have achieved to my mother – a beacon, an inspiration, a role model,” she says. “Without her determination, I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to follow my dreams.”
Magi-Galluzzi’s mother was a skilled freelance tailor who pursued her entrepreneurial spirit and opened a commercial laundry and dry-cleaning service, with Cristina helping alongside her after school. Her father started his career as a welder and went on to become a government employee. Both emphasized the importance of education, she says, encouraging her and her brother to do well in school.
“With both parents working, we were fairly independent and mature,” she recalls. Perhaps because of that, she adds, “I am a learner, and I like to master new skills and solve problems or unexpected challenges.”
That independent spirit ultimately urged Magi-Galluzzi to become the first doctor in her family – and in her town. At medical school in her home country, at the
Magi-Galluzzi during her fellowship with genitourinary fellows at Johns Hopkins University in 2002 University of Ancona, she was particularly inspired by her professors of anatomic pathology – Rodolfo Montironi and Marina Scarpelli—who would later become her mentors.
“I thought the pathology lectures were the most fascinating, because they explained the pathogenesis of diseases,” she says.
Working with Montironi on prostate cancer sparked Magi-Galluzzi’s interest in genitourinary pathology. After completing medical school, she moved on to a residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Ancona. Since residents were not compensated at that time, she covered the emergency medicine service in her hometown overnight for two to three nights per month and on weekends, to support herself during the training.
One year into Magi-Galluzzi’s residency training, Montironi suggested she pursue a Ph.D. program. She applied for and entered the oncologic human pathology Ph.D. program at the University of Verona. It supported and funded one year of scholarship at a foreign institution, so she decided to move to the U.S. to complete a research fellowship in molecular biology at what was then called the New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, in Boston.
Coming to America
“I still remember the day I stood at the door ready to leave with my two suitcases,” she says. “I was on cloud nine despite some apprehension.” At 28 years of age, this would be her first trip out of Italy, her first flight, her first time spending more than a couple of weeks out of her parents’ house, and her first time having to communicate in a foreign language.
“I probably matured 10 years in that first year,” she recalls. “I was a completely different person when I returned home. It is not easy to leave behind one’s family, friends, culture, food, comfort zone, and safety net. Yet my career would probably not have been the same if it wasn’t for coming to this country. I am grateful for friendly colleagues, unlimited resources, a supportive learning environment and the exposure to coworkers from varied cultures.”
She was impressed by the residency education in the United States compared to her experience in Italy. “Because the teaching was done in a more structured way, it was very exciting—I was learning a lot every day and I loved it,” she says.
Following her research fellowship in molecular biology, Magi-Galluzzi stayed in the U.S. to pursue additional research opportunities at the Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. After serving as lab supervisor for a couple of years at Beth-Israel, she started her second residency program in anatomic (AP) and clinical pathology (CP) at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago in 1997, transferring back to Boston midway through to complete AP/CP residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She says the experiences she had in her years as a trainee in the States had an impact on her, “resilience, independence, and drive to pursue excellence.”
Magi-Galluzzi went on to complete a fellowship in kidney-urologic pathology at Johns Hopkins University and was hired for her first faculty position, as staff pathologist at the Cleveland Clinic and assistant professor of pathology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) of Case Western Reserve University. She stayed on faculty for 15 years and was promoted to full professor at CCLCM by 2014.
A rising star
In 2018 Magi-Galluzzi was recognized by The Pathologist on its “Power List” of “100 of the best, brightest and most powerful advocates of pathology.” In that same year she was recruited to UAB to serve as Division Director of Anatomic Pathology and C. Bruce Alexander Endowed Professor.
On March 25, at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) annual meeting, Magi-Galluzzi was named USCAP Vice President for 2024–2025, meaning she will ultimately serve as President for 2026–2027. Additionally, she is president-elect of the Genitourinary Pathology Society and will take over as President in 2025.
Magi-Galluzzi with Andrea McCaskey, Momentum, at her graduation from the Momentum in Medicine UAB Leadership Program in 2023Among her greatest achievements, she says, is serving as the editor of four textbooks on genitourinary pathology. Another career highlight is the recognition by the UAB Pathology residents in 2023 as the recipient of the Leonard H. Robinson Award for Resident Education in Anatomic Pathology.
It was also this past March that Magi-Galluzzi achieved an important career milestone—starting in her role as Chair of the Department of Pathology at UAB. In doing so, she becomes the first-ever female to hold that position in the department’s history. Shortly after, she was named the Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair in Pathology.
It was not something she planned, she says, but influential people in her life—former colleagues, mentors, and her husband—encouraged her toward leadership opportunities. After participating in several leadership courses, including Momentum in Medicine at UAB (a course specifically for women) and UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership, she began seeing herself as a leader in the field.
“The mentorship and peer interactions helped me sharpen my vision and goals and gave me the confidence to believe that I have the necessary skills to be successful. I am passionate about what I do, determined, and intentional, and I am confident I can make a positive impact by focusing my efforts on adding value for the patients we serve and the people we work with.”
Her various mentors throughout the years, coupled with her peers in leadership courses and her colleagues, inspired her, she says. “I am grateful to all my role models who encouraged me, believed in me, and helped me along the way to make my dreams come true. I am enthusiastic and excited about my new role, and aware that challenges are part of any success." One quote that captures Magi-Galluzzi’s views on achievement is, "Success is the daily pursuit of a worthy goal,” by hospital CEO Darrell Bell. “I would give my best,” she says. “I am a firm believer that intention leads to significance.”
A vision for what is to come
“A common theme throughout my career has been, and continues to be, dedication to excellence,” says Magi-Galluzzi. “Excellence in providing first-class patient care, high standards for medical education, and innovative scientific research to advance personalized clinical medicine.” She regards two initiatives as important to the future of the field: digital pathology combined with computational pathology and artificial intelligence (AI), and molecular and genomic diagnostics.
“The future of pathology is contingent on novel technologies,” she says. “Leveraging the power of molecular diagnostics will have an impact on prevention, precision screening, precision oncology, diagnostics, therapeutics, and population health. Capitalizing on novel technologies and AI will help scientific discoveries, treatment selections and operational efficiency.” She emphasizes the importance of advances in digital pathology to allow for increased flexibility
UAB Pathology's 2024 faculty group photo with remote work. “With digital pathology, one can be a productive member of the workforce without being bound to a specific location. You could leave work early to pick up your kids from daycare and finish signing out cases from home, for example.”
As for AI replacing doctors, Magi-Galluzzi has her doubts. “I believe physicians embracing AI will replace physicians who will not; AI has the potential to dramatically increase our ability to do things more efficiently. Currently a good algorithm is available for screening prostate biopsies for cancer, for example. Digital pathology and AI could help overcome the workforce shortage and lack of expertise. I think it will augment our abilities, rather than replace us.” Pathology and all its potential advances remain Magi-Galluzzi’s passion. “It is unfortunate that the role and importance of pathology in patient care is not fully understood. Pathology is a fascinating and meaningful field. I have enjoyed every day of my professional career. I love being a pathologist!”
Since the start of her career as chair of UAB Pathology, Magi-Galluzzi has symbolically displayed sunflowers to represent her gratitude. "I feel gratitude deep in my heart for where I have been and where we as a department are going together. What a beautiful journey; and it's only just beginning."