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News Release

April 21, 2011

Contact: Maureen McGuire, 860-679-4523
e-mail: mmcguire@nso.uchc.edu

UConn Health Center Leader, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, Elected to the African Academy of Sciences

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Internationally recognized orthopaedic surgeon and bioengineering expert, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, the vice president for health affairs at the University of Connecticut Health Center and dean of the UConn School of Medicine, was recently elected to the African Academy of Sciences, a prestigious organization that honors African science and technology leaders and promotes science-led development in the continent.

Since its founding in 1986, membership has been extended to scientists throughout the world. Laurencin is one of three Americans who are fellows of the Academy. Selection is based on academic and research achievements, as well as the impact fellows have made in their respective fields.

“This is a tremendous honor and I am deeply grateful to be recognized by such an outstanding international organization,” Laurencin said. “There is a long and proud tradition of science in Africa, and as an individual of African descent, I am proud to be a part of that tradition,” he added.

Laurencin, of Avon, has been a visiting professor in centers in Africa. He has also worked as part of a global team of African academic and industrial scientists from the Diaspora in creating Institutes of Science and Technology in Africa, in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Institution.

Throughout his career, Laurencin has received acclaim for his work in orthopaedic surgery, research, particularly bioengineering, and academics, with an emphasis on mentoring.

Clinically, Laurencin is a fellow of the American Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has won the prestigious Nicholas Andry Award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. In research, Laurencin was named one of the “100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era” by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers at its Centennial Celebration, and is the 2009 winner of the Pierre Galletti Award, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s highest honor.

He is an elected member of both the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

Laurencin's career has had a heavy emphasis on mentoring. He received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring in ceremonies at the White House last year.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/laurencin_lab.jpg
Caption: Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, vice president for health affairs at the UConn Health Center and dean of the UConn School of Medicine, was recently elected to the African Academy of Sciences.

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

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