By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

Last week, I had the honor and privilege of being the main keynote speaker at a regional meeting organized by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). The theme for the meeting is STEMulating Innovation from Discovery to Application. This regional meeting provided numerous opportunities to learn from peers and colleagues about their latest scientific findings in the STEM fields. My keynote lecture, “Regenerative Engineering: Theory and Practice” was held at the Louisiana State University. The object of my lecture is to highlight the increasing convergence between engineering, biology, and medicine. This meeting was packed with technical and professional development sessions, and industrial spotlights. Thank you to Dr. Marsha Cole, NOBCChE Southwest Regional Chair, for organizing such a nice meeting