UConn's Laurencin to Receive Prestigious Award from Association of American Medical Colleges

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The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has named noted University of Connecticut Professor Cato T. Laurencin as the recipient of the 2020 Herbert W. Nickens Award.  The award is bestowed on an individual who has made monumental contributions to promoting justice in medical education and health care equity throughout the nation.

Laurencin will receive the prestigious award in November during the virtual AAMC annual meeting, where he will give a presentation entitled “Black Lives Matter in Science, Engineering, and Medicine.” He was recently highlighted on the topic in the publication Science. In response to a request from the chairwoman of the science committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is gearing up for an in-depth study of racism in academic research.

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In awarding him the Herbert W. Nickens Award, the AAMC said “Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. has distinguished himself throughout his 40-year career as a phenomenal physician-scientist and a courageous leader in social justice, equity, and fairness.”

At UConn, Dr. Laurencin is a University Professor, one of only two currently at the school. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering. He is also the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Materials Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. In addition, he is a core faculty member of the Africana Studies Institute at UConn.

“Connecticut applauds and congratulates Dr. Laurencin for his lifelong dedication to the betterment of society and science” said Governor Ned Lamont.  The criteria for the AAMC award are:

  • Exemplary contributions to promoting social justice in medical education and health equities.

  • Record of achievement in promoting social justice.

  • Contributions have had a significant national impact.

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The founder of the field of Regenerative Engineering, Laurencin received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor bestowed in America for technological achievement, from President Barack Obama. He also received the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “for signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States.” In addition, he has also received the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Pioneer Grant Award and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Grant Award, UConn Today noted in a recent article.

Earlier this month, at a news conference attended by Gov. Lamont and other state officials, Connecticut Biotech, a new innovative start-up company, announced the launch of its Secure Fit 3D-printed face mask frame. In partnership with the University of Connecticut and under the leadership of Dr. Laurencin, Connecticut Biotech developed technology to manufacture customized Secure Fit frames, which help cloth and disposable surgical masks fit tighter to the face.

The mask frames are an exoskeleton worn outside of a traditional surgical mask, providing enhanced efficacy in protection against COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens. Secure Fit is seen as a reusable, reliable device designed to make day-to-day interactions safer for users.

The concept of using facial-recognition software to pinpoint 3D-printing specifications for custom fitting was developed by Dr. Laurencin and his team of researchers at the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering. With support from UConn's Technology Commercialization Services, Dr. Laurencin and his researchers submitted a patent application for the process earlier this year.

"This is an important technology that can help a lot of people by providing a specific way to make regular surgical masks more protective," Dr. Laurencin at the news conference in South Windsor on August 14. "It's wonderful to see technology that started here in the state of Connecticut being developed by a local company."

Connecticut Biotech began manufacturing and selling the Secure Fit frames in July in limited quantities. It is refining and improving its process with plans for vastly scaled-up production and distribution capacity by late 2020, according to company officials.

 “As University Professor, Dr. Laurencin has been leading across the university, in medicine, engineering, and the social sciences. His work in developing and mentoring individuals, especially people of color from high school, college, graduate education and faculty here at the University has been particularly incredible,” said UConn President Thomas C. Katsouleas.

Laurencin is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors.  He is the first person to win the oldest and highest awards of both the National Academy of Medicine (the Walsh McDermott Medal) and the National Academy of Engineering (the Simon Ramo Founders Award).

In social justice, Laurencin is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and co-founded the W. Montague Cobb/National Medical Association (NMA) Health Institute. He has received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring in ceremonies at the White House. He received the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Mentor Award where it was noted he has been responsible for the development and mentoring of a generation of Black and Latino students in medicine, engineering and science.