UConn Health

November 29, 2022 | Jini Davis, Connecticut Convergence Institute

UConn and Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Celebrated by St. Lucia

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of UConn and UConn Health was honored this November by St. Lucian officials with high honors.

Dr. Laurencin in St. Lucia

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin being honored by interim president of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia. (Photo by Joshua Vernor, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College).

Dr. Laurencin in St. Lucia
In St. Lucia his Excellency Julian Dubois the Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, and Interim College President of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. (Photo by Joshua Vernor, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College).

This November University Professor Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, CEO of the Connecticut Convergence Institute at UConn Health, traveled to Saint Lucia for several high honors.

On Nov. 11, Laurencin had the honor of delivering the opening address at the St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association’s Annual Meeting.

He showcased to attendees the success of the UConn St. Lucia Just Us Moving Program (JUMP). JUMP is a program dedicated to health lifestyles and healthy food consumption. In partnership with Sir Artur Lewis Community College, the UConn St. Lucia JUMP program has successfully worked to educate St. Lucian communities, with the overall objective of improving the quality of life for St. Lucians.

Also, UConn’s Laurencin, met with officials in St. Lucia including the Honorable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, His Excellency Julian Dubois the Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, and Prisca Regis-Andrew the Dean, Department the Health, Wellness and Human Performance at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to review the progress of the UConn-St. Lucia Partnership signed earlier this year.

The partnership has distributed Laurencin’s autobiography “Success is What You Leave Behind” published by Elsevier, to all schools and libraries in St. Lucia. During his visit to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Laurencin’s autobiography was also distributed to a number of undergraduates at the school.

Dr. Laurencin in St. Lucia
Dr. Laurencin gifted college students at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia his autobiography.(Photo by Joshua Vernor, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College).

In addition, in a special ceremony at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, the UNESCO Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences awarded to Laurencin in ceremonies in Ethiopia was enshrined at the entrance of the college.

This February, Laurencin received a St. Lucia 2022 National Award. On February 22 his excellency the Acting Governor-General as Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lucia, on the advice of the Prime Minister, awarded to Laurencin the Saint Lucia Medal Of Honour (gold) award for his eminent international service rendered in the field of medicine, regenerative engineering and life sciences.