I was really excited to attend the Helen I. Moorehead-Laurencin, M.D., Sex and Gender Forum at Drexel University. Now in its 10th year, the Forum honors the memory of my mother, an extraordinary physician who worked in the inner city of Philadelphia. Dr. Helen Laurencin was very passionate about clinical care, research and education, and served as a quiet leader for the community. The Forum, sponsored by the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel, is a fitting tribute to her work and her legacy. Attending the Forum was the next generation member of the Laurencin medical family, Sam Laurencin. He is completing an M.D. at Drexel Medical School, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Sam plans to enter a career as an academic orthopaedic surgeon.

I am very grateful to the leadership of Drexel including Lynn Yeakel, Dr. Michelle Follen, and Dr. Sandra Urdaneta Hartmann for putting on such a fine program.

I am honored to be included in the National Academies of Science and Engineering and the Institute of Medicine’s African American History Program. My accomplishments are included, but this website is a testament to the African American Scientists and Engineers who came before me, as well as those who will follow me. As we work to continue changing the face of those who contribute to scientific accomplishments, both nationally and worldwide, I encourage you to visit this website and share the knowledge of outstanding African American scientists who will inspire the next generation.

I was honored and humbled to have received the Biomedical Engineering Society’s (BMES) Diversity Award for 2011 at its recent annual meeting. It honors an individual, project, organization, or institution for outstanding contributions to improving gender and racial diversity in biomedical engineering.

During the BMES annual meeting I gave the Diversity Lecture entitled “What I Teach When I Mentor– What I’ve Learned When I’ve Been Taught” I focused on the importance of courage in striving to achieve goals and the importance of the mentor/mentee relationship.

As a mentor for numerous students and fellows, I am so proud when I see the numbers of individuals being recognized for their achievements. There is no greater joy for me than spending time to mentor my students, fellows, and residents. Their curiosity and enthusiasm keep me moving forward.

Thanks for your support.

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.
University Professor
Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering
Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science
Director, Institute for Regenerative Engineering

 

 

I am pleased to share an article from today’s issue of The NIH Record about a very powerful ceremony I participated in last month with the NIH community. I was honored to be the keynote speaker during a program designed to reflect upon the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

• King Observance Is a Call to Service

Earlier this week, I had the great honor of being the National Day of Observance Speaker in a symposium sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in commemoration of the birth date of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was particularly taken with the title of the program, “Remember! Celebrate! Act!” Those words are a clear challenge to all of us. We need to actively remember, celebrate and act upon the enduring legacy Dr. King gave us. It is a challenge we can’t refuse.

I wish everyone a happy and thoughtful Martin Luther King Day holiday this year.

Today, as our nation celebrates Flag Day – the date marking the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States – I ask all of you to reflect for a moment on the flag and the journey it has taken through our American history. From its early days representing just 13 states until the present day, the flag has seen our nation through war and peace, times of challenge and times of prosperity. It flies at national landmarks and is proudly displayed at homes and businesses throughout the country – including our Health Center where the flag is prominently displayed in the Main Lobby.

The flag is a symbol that unites all Americans and celebrates our nation’s rich and diverse heritage. When I look at the Stars and Stripes, I am filled with pride and reminded that its threads were woven by many hands, over the course of many generations. Together, we can weave our own piece of history by creating a brighter and better future for our patients, students, colleagues and everyone who is part of the Health Center family.

Today, it is my honor to wish all of you a happy Flag Day.

Over the past few weeks, I had the privilege of attending several important and festive events in the community on behalf of the Health Center.

In early February was “The Taste of History,” a celebration of African American culture, sponsored by the Amistad Center for Art and Culture and held at the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford. Approximately 300 people attended this event which featured excellent samplings from local restaurants, music and of course, a stunning art collection.

Interspersed with the tasting was a table staffed by Health Center experts who offered advice and information about nutrition and healthy living. Our experts included cardiologist Dr. Anjenette Ferris and nutritionists Deb Downes and Jean Kostak. They did a great job answering questions and helping people brave the buffet that night!

I was delighted that other leaders from the Health Center attended the event as well. This included Dr. Marja Hurley, director of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative, and Dr. Biree Andemariam, who is part of a new, multidisciplinary program to provide complete care for adults with sickle cell disease.

There was a strong sense of celebration that evening. It made me realize how the Amistad Center and the Health Center share so many common values and goals. We are both dedicated to education, humanism, and helping the community achieve a deeper understanding of our diverse American experience. And like the Amistad Center, we are attuned to our history and at the same time, focused on the future and committed to improving lives on many levels. For those of you who have not visited the Amistad Center, I encourage you to do so.

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, my wife and I attended the annual ball to benefit the Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research. Through the years, the Lea’s Foundation has raised more than $2 million and many of those dollars have come back to the Health Center to support research and clinical care, most notably through the Lea’s Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders, which is part of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The evening was also a great source of pride for the Health Center. The honoree was Dr. Pramod Srivastava, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Immunology and Director of the Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases, and an internationally recognized pioneer in cancer vaccine research. Professor Srivastava gave an inspiring speech about the future of medical care.

The Lea’s Foundation also thanked our School of Medicine and the ongoing commitment of our students to raise money for the Lea’s Foundation every summer through the Coast to Coast for a Cure cross country bike treks. I’ll have a separate communication thanking our students who will bike around the country this summer for this great cause.

I had the privilege of attending the annual Chinese New Year celebration at the Health Center. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. The celebration, organized by several Health Center research labs, featured talent shows, music, Chinese cuisine, and revelers in tiger-themed costumes and attire.

I enjoyed taking part in the customs and traditions of the Chinese. I am also very proud to be part of an organization that is rich in diversity and culture.

I am very proud to announce that our colleague Dr. Marja M. Hurley was honored this week as one of the winners of the 2010 Women of Innovation Awards. The awards program, sponsored by the Connecticut Technology Council, recognizes women in the workforce who are innovators, role models and leaders in the technology, science and engineering fields.

Dr. Hurley is an accomplished endocrinologist, biomedical researcher, professor of medicine and an associate dean with both the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine. For more than two decades, she has led the Health Center’s widely recognized Health Career Opportunity Programs and has helped hundreds of students from underrepresented minorities successfully pursue careers in medicine, dentistry and other health professions.

Today, the health careers program, known as the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative, is an umbrella of innovative educational programs that reaches out to talented students from middle school, high school, college and graduate levels. Efforts are bolstered by mentoring and teaching support from UConn Health Center faculty in all disciplines including biomedical research, dentistry and clinical care.

In all aspects of her career, Dr. Hurley has been an exemplary role model, leader and innovator. She was joined by her husband and many colleagues Wednesday night when the award was announced. On behalf of the entire Health Center community, I’m delighted to extend my congratulations as well.

I was flattered to be featured recently in my hometown paper, Avon Life. It is always an honor for me to talk about the Health Center, its people, its accomplishments and the important role we all play in the health and well being of our community. As you may notice, the article states that I interviewed for my current position in August of 2008; actually, I arrived at the Health Center in August of last year. It’s been a terrific journey since then.

• Read the Article (PDF)