July 6, 2023 | Jini Davis

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Elected to the Council of the National Academy of Medicine

This July Dr. Laurencin begins his 3-year term for the Academy’s governing and oversight body.

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of the University of Connecticut and UConn Health.

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of the University of Connecticut and UConn Health.

Professor Cato T. Laurencin, University Professor and CEO of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at UConn has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine Council, the Academy’s governing and oversight body, for a 3-year term beginning this month.

The National Academy of Medicine is an independent, trusted advisor to the nation. Election to membership in the National Academy Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the field.

“I am incredibly pleased to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine Council. I strongly believe in the mission and vision of the National Academy of Medicine and hope my contributions can advance its work,” said Laurencin, the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine.

Laurencin is the first surgeon elected to membership in all four of the U.S. National Academies: The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Laurencin is known as a world leader in biomaterials, polymeric materials science, nanotechnology, stem cell science, drug delivery systems, and a field he has pioneered regenerative engineering. His breakthrough achievements in science, engineering, and medicine have resulted in transformative advances in improving human life.

He received the Philip Hague Abelson Prize, the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s highest honor for “signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States” for his work in Regenerative Engineering. 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.

A practicing orthopaedic surgeon, he has been named to America’s Top Doctors for over 15 years. He received the American Orthopaedic Association’s (AOA) Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award with induction into the AOA Awards Hall of Fame. His autobiography has been published by Elsevier and is entitled “Success is What You Leave Behind.”