Cato T. Laurencin
Encyclopedia
Cato T. Laurencin a professor and a surgeon, is the outgoing Dean of the University of Connecticut
School of Medicine and the Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Connecticut.
He is one of only 3 practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Laurencin was the first Orthopaedic Surgeon to achieve University Professor level rank in the country. He is the first surgeon in the US to be elected to the Third World Academy of Sciences (of the six US members elected in the last two years, one third are Nobel prize
winners).
from Princeton University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical school where he was a magna cum laude graduate. During his medical school, he also earned his Ph.D in biochemical engineering
from the MIT.
Prior to his service at the University of Virginia, Laurencin was at Drexel University School of Medicine
and Hahnemann Hospital
in Philadelphia where he served as the Helen I. Moorehead Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of Shoulder Surgery.
He holds the Van Dusen Endowed Chair in Academic Medicine and is a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut.
He is one of only 3 practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Laurencin won the Nicolas Andry Prize (highest award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons). It is considered a lifetime achievement award of the profession. He was named to the IOM Round table on Evidence Based Medicine (his specific designation on the round table is representing the interests of all physician providers).
He serves on the editorial board of 17 journals and his work was recently honored by Scientific American Magazine as one of the 50 greatest achievements in science this past year. In addition, this year 2009, he has been named as one of the 100 engineers of the modern era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Most recently, he was honored by Black Enterprise
magazine in its American's Leading Doctors edition. The Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
, an historically black university
, awarded him an honorary Ph.D. in science.
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
School of Medicine and the Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Connecticut.
He is one of only 3 practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Laurencin was the first Orthopaedic Surgeon to achieve University Professor level rank in the country. He is the first surgeon in the US to be elected to the Third World Academy of Sciences (of the six US members elected in the last two years, one third are Nobel prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winners).
Education
Laurencin grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Central High School. Laurencin earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineeringChemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from Princeton University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical school where he was a magna cum laude graduate. During his medical school, he also earned his Ph.D in biochemical engineering
Biochemical engineering
Biochemical engineering is a branch of chemical engineering or biological engineering that mainly deals with the design and construction of unit processes that involve biological organisms or molecules, such as bioreactors...
from the MIT.
Career
Laurencin joined the University of Connecticut Health Center from the University of Virginia where he was the Lillian T. Pratt Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, as well as the Orthopaedic Surgeon-in-Chief at the University of Virginia Health System. In addition, he was designated as a University Professor at the University of Virginia, one of the university’s most prestigious titles, and held professorships in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering.Prior to his service at the University of Virginia, Laurencin was at Drexel University School of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine is the medical school of Drexel University. The medical school has the nation's largest enrollment for a private medical school, and represents the consolidation of two medical schools: the nation's first medical school for women and the first U.S. college of...
and Hahnemann Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital, established in 1885 and named after Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia. It is affiliated with Drexel University College of Medicine and serves as its Center City Hahnemann campus.-History:In 1993 Hahnemann...
in Philadelphia where he served as the Helen I. Moorehead Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of Shoulder Surgery.
He holds the Van Dusen Endowed Chair in Academic Medicine and is a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut.
He is one of only 3 practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Laurencin won the Nicolas Andry Prize (highest award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons). It is considered a lifetime achievement award of the profession. He was named to the IOM Round table on Evidence Based Medicine (his specific designation on the round table is representing the interests of all physician providers).
He serves on the editorial board of 17 journals and his work was recently honored by Scientific American Magazine as one of the 50 greatest achievements in science this past year. In addition, this year 2009, he has been named as one of the 100 engineers of the modern era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Most recently, he was honored by Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise is a monthly U.S. magazine which describes itself as "the premier business news and investment resource for African Americans" and claims a readership of 3.7 million. It was founded in 1970 by Earl G. Graves, Sr.. The publication is known for its annual listing of the largest...
magazine in its American's Leading Doctors edition. The Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
, an historically black university
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
, awarded him an honorary Ph.D. in science.