University of Connecticut Professor Cato T. Laurencin, received the Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from the Society for Biomaterials. The Society is the leading professional organization promoting advances in biomedical materials research. This award recognizes Laurencin for promoting anti-racism and creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for historically excluded groups in the STEM disciplines, especially in the field of biomaterials.
“Dr. Laurencin is the quintessential candidate for this award not only because of the impact that his scientific contributions have made within the fields of medicine and engineering, but also the impact his life has made on hundreds of engineers, scientists, and physicians who he has helped, trained, and mentored to follow his example,” said Edward A. Botchwey, Ph.D., professor of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech.
Throughout his distinguished career, Laurencin has taken significant steps to ensure that the impact of pioneering work in biomaterials and regenerative engineering benefits both the research community, and through his mentoring, future scientists and engineers.
Laurencin is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is the first surgeon in history to be elected to all four national academies. Laurencin received the Philip Hague Abelson Prize, the highest honor of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for “signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States” for his work in Regenerative Engineering, a field he founded. He is the first person to receive both the oldest/highest award from the National Academy of Engineering (the Simon Ramo Founder’s Award) and one of the oldest/highest awards of the National Academy of Medicine (the Walsh McDermott Medal). In innovation, Laurencin was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honor for technological advancement, by President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.
Laurencin is the first person to receive the three principal national awards for mentoring: the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award, the Beckman Award for Mentoring, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama at the White House.
He received his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, his M.D., Magna Cum Laude from the Harvard Medical School, and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His autobiography has been published by Elsevier and is entitled “Success is What You Leave Behind.” He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut.
