Laurencin, Cato T.

Cato T. Laurencin FREng SLMH (born January 15, 1959) is an American engineer, physician, scientist, innovator and a University Professor of the University of Connecticut (one of twenty-nine in the history of the university). He is currently the chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering. Laurencin is regarded as the founder of the field of Regenerative Engineering. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine and Founder and president of the Regenerative Engineering Society. In engineering, medicine, science, and innovation, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, and an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is the first surgeon in history to be elected to all four academies. He is the first person to receive both the oldest/highest awards from the National Academy of Engineering (the Simon Ramo Founder's Award) and the oldest/highest National Academy of Medicine (the Walsh McDermott Medal). In science, Laurencin received the Philip Hague Abelson Prize, the highest honor of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for "signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States" for his work in Regenerative Engineering. In innovation, Laurencin was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America's highest honor for technological advancement, awarded by President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.