Cato Laurencin - Biography#

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. is the University Professor, the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut.

He earned his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton, his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Harvard Medical School, and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from M.I.T.

Dr. Laurencin is the pioneer of the field of Regenerative Engineering. In receiving the Spingarn Medal he was named the world’s foremost engineer-physician-scientist. In recognition of his breakthrough achievements, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers created the Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award.

Dr. Laurencin is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

He is the first individual to receive both the oldest/highest award of 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). 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 recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honor for technological achievement, awarded by President Barack Obama at the White House.