Cato T. Laurencin

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. is one of two designated University Professors currently at the University of Connecticut. He is the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Laurencin earned a 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.

A practicing sports medicine and shoulder surgeon, Dr. Laurencin has been named to America’s Top Doctors for over fifteen years. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Surgical Association. He received the Nicolas Andry Award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. He served as Dean of the Medical School and Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Laurencin is a pioneer of the new field, Regenerative Engineering. He is an expert in biomaterials science, stem cell technology and nanotechnology and was named one of the 100 Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He received the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, NIH’s highest and most prestigious research award, for his new field of Regenerative Engineering. The American Association for the Advancement of Science awarded Dr. Laurencin the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize given ‘for signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States.’ Dr. Laurencin is the first to receive both the Walsh McDermott Medal (highest award) from the National Academy of Medicine and the Simon Ramo Founder’s Award (highest award) from the National Academy of Engineering given for ‘fundamental, critical, and groundbreaking scientific advances in the engineering of tissues.’

Dr. Laurencin received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honor for technological achievement, from President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.

Dr. Laurencin is active in mentoring, and received 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 in ceremonies at the White House. The Society for Biomaterials established The Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Travel Fellowship Award given to underrepresented minority students pursuing research.

Dr. Laurencin is also active in addressing Health Disparities. He is a core faculty member of the Africana Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, published by Springer Nature. He co-founded the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute, dedicated to addressing Health Disparities, and served as its Founding Chair. He has written and taught on issues regarding diversity, health disparities including HIV/AIDS, and workforce issues as they impact diversity and excellence.

Dr. Laurencin is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the first engineer-surgeon to be elected to all three of these academies. Active internationally, he is an elected fellow of the Indian National Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the African Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences, and is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.