On Thursday, May 16^th the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering and the Black & Puerto Rican Caucus successfully co-hosted a legislative reception at the Capitol welcoming the incoming UConn President, Thomas C. Katsouleas.

The event attracted over 100 UConn employees, students, partners and members of the Connecticut General Assembly. The celebration was meet-and-greet style complete with refreshments and hours d’oeuvres honoring the incoming President.

The program was moderated by Dr. Cato Laurencin, Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Convergence Institute. He introduced the following keynote speakers:

• Brandon McGee, Chairman of the Black & Puerto Rican Caucus
• Geraldo Reyes, Vice Chairman of the Black & Puerto Rican Caucus
• Andrew Agwunobi Chief Executive Officer & EVP for Health Affairs, UConn Health
• Marja Hurley Associate Dean for Health Career Opportunity Programs, UConn Health
• Thomas C. Katsouleas, President Designate, UConn

The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering would like to thank all who attended and supported this milestone event.

The Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) at UConn Health held its 7^th annual symposium on May 6^th to honor outstanding women faculty, graduate, medical and dental students. The Convergence Institute’s own Dr. Nair received the Women in Innovation Award from the CT Technology Council and was awarded as a finalist for the Research Innovation and Leadership Award.

Dr. Nair has a long list of titles and accomplishments which led to her receiving this prestigious award. She is the Associate Director of the Connecticut Convergence Institute at UConn Health. A significant part of Dr. Nair’s research is committed to developing injectable and biomimetic biomaterials and identifying bioactive molecules that could accelerate tissue regeneration and reduce musculoskeletal pain. She is also a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and serves as the Vice President for the UCONN chapter of NAI. She has more than 120 peer reviewed publications and edited several books in the area of Biomaterials and Orthopedic regenerative engineering. Dr. Nair also serves as the Managing editor of the journal of “Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine” and the Principal Editor of the Journal of Materials Research.

When: May 29, 2019 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: YWCA Hartford located at 135 Broad Street. Free parking.

Please join us to explore the health benefits of increasing your daily movement and adding fun to your routine!

This event is part of the initiative for the Just Us Moving Project (JUMP). Dr. Helen Wu, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, UConn Health will discuss how to increase motivation of daily physical activities as part of community engagement of the Just Us Moving Project (JUMP).

Food and beverages will be provided as well as a guided Zumba class.

Speakers:

• Kevin Lo, Ph.D., Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, UConn Health
• Maria N. Achong, M.D., President Connecticut Society of the National Medical Association

Registration: This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Please RSVP if you wish to attend.

Sponsored By:

The YWCA is a proud partner of the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering at UConn Health.

Please join The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering at UConn and The Connecticut Legislative Black & Puerto Rican Caucus for a reception welcoming Thomas C. Katsouleas as the 16th President of UConn!

WHEN: May 16, 2019 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 (North Lobby)

PARKING: Capitol Grounds Parking Lot or LOB Main Parking Garage

AGENDA

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Meet and Greet with refreshments and hors d’oeuvres

5:30 – 5:45 p.m.
Remarks moderated by:
Dr. Cato Laurencin, Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Convergence Institute

Representative Brandon McGee
Chairman, Connecticut Legislative Black & Puerto Rican Caucus

Representative Geraldo Reyes
Vice Chairman, Connecticut Legislative Black & Puerto Rican Caucus

Dr. Andrew Agwunobi
Chief Executive Officer, UConn Health & EVP for Health Affairs

Dr. Marja Hurley
Associate Dean for Health Career Opportunity Programs, UConn Health

Thomas Katsouleas
President Designate, UConn

5:45 – 6:30 p.m.
Networking

Dr. Cato Laurencin, a world-renowned Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut delivered the opening remarks at the 36^th Connecticut Invention Convention to more than 1,200 enthusiastic K-12 students from over 300 local schools.

During his inspirational and perfectly tailored speech, he challenged each of the young inventors to “Remember to cherish every day, take on challenges as opportunities and build on what I call your spiritual armor” and “Look to those who have gone before you for inspiration and guidance.”

The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is a multiple award-winning, internationally recognized, non-profit educational program designed to develop and enhance critical thinking skills in children through invention, innovation and entrepreneurship, while encouraging their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

On April 11, 2019, Dr. Bahram Javidi, UConn’s own Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering was inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows program.

Achieving NAI Fellow status is considered the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors. Those elected undergo a rigorous nomination and selection process, and have demonstrated a significant impact in a variety of fields including biomedical engineering, laser photonics and computer sciences.

Javidi has been recognized for his pioneering work in the field with countless awards and honors, including The Quantum Electronics and Optics Prize for Applied Aspects, the George Washington University Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award, the Humboldt Prize for outstanding international scientists and the Technology Achievement Award. In early 2018, he was named winner of the prestigious Joseph Fraunhofer Award / Robert M. Burley Prize. He currently holds 30 patents and has over 1,000 publications.

Amongst Javidi are four other UConn NAI fellows, Dr. Cato Laurencin, Dr. Lakshmi S. Nair, Dr. Pramod Srivastava and Dr. Steve Suib.

The UConn School of Medicine community gathered together on April 24 to celebrate the inaugural class of fourth-year medical students elected to its new Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA) chapter. UConn faculty and medical residents also elected to join AΩA were honored.

As the 130th active chapter, UConn joins medical schools throughout the U.S. in the society recognizing and promoting the highest ideals of medicine. Member election to AΩA chapter is an honor that signifies excellence and commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service.

The roots of UConn’s new Connecticut Beta chapter was first established in 2016. It is only the second chapter to be established in the state since Yale School of Medicine’s Alpha chapter was founded in 1920.

As an active AΩA chapter, each year UConn School of Medicine can nominate the top 25 percent of its medical school class to become members of the professional medical organization within their senior year. Of that 25 percent, up to 16 percent of the total medical school class may be elected into the society.

Elected members of the inaugural chapter class include:

Class of 2019 medical students

• Alexis Cordone
• Madeline Coulter
• Brett Diamond
• Jeremy Grenier
• Laura Hatchman
• Austen Katz
• Ardian Latifi
• Julianna Lau
• Rebecca Maher
• Lisa O’Donovan
• Roshni Patel
• Mary Soyster
• Ishan Tatake
• Kristin Torre
• Katelyn Wong

Residents

• Sarah Lopez, family medicine
• Christian Mosebach, internal medicine
• Prateek Shukla, primary care
• Jessica Tuan, internal medicine

Faculty

• Cato T. Laurencin, University Professor at UConn, the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine, and director of the Institute for Regenerative Engineering and The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Physical, and Engineering Sciences at UConn Health
• Edwin L. Zalneraitis, professor of pediatrics and neurology and director of the pediatric residency program at UConn School of Medicine and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Alpha Omega Alpha was founded in 1902 by a small group of medical students led by William Webster Root at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago. Its premier membership has included 57 Nobel Laureates, 11 Surgeons General of the U.S. and nearly seventy-five percent of deans of U.S. medical schools. Since its founding, AΩA has elected more than 185,000 members worldwide.

The mission of AΩA is dedicated to the belief that the profession of medicine will improve care for all patients by recognizing high educational achievement, honoring gifted teaching, encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community, supporting the ideals of humanism and promoting service to others.

A few members of the labs at the CT Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering helped to motivate young students towards careers in the sciences by volunteering at a S.T.E.A.M. Expo hosted by the Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals at the University of Hartford on April 20th. The Graduate Students worked with youngsters to create hands on activities that would inspire curiosity about science.  Pictured from left to right are: Leila Daneshmandi, Guleid Awale, Aundrya Montgomery, Marley Pitter, and Mohammed Barajaa.

Dr. Cato Laurencin has just been elected as a member of the renowned American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Laurencin, who is being honored for his work as a pioneer in the field of regenerative engineering, is the first UConn Health faculty member to be elected.

Dr. Laurencin is a surgeon in orthopaedic surgery, as well as a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, professor of materials science and engineering, and professor of biomedical engineering. His innovative research regarding the growth and regeneration of bone, ligaments and other musculoskeletal tissues has spanned across 25 years.

“I am very honored and humbled to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. I thank my mentors especially Professor Robert Langer, and my students who continually inspire me,” he said.  Read the full article about Dr. Laurencin’s election to the AAAS in UConn Today.

Associate Director of the CT Convergence Institute, Dr. Lakshmi Nair, recently represented UConn at the National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting.

The Academy aims to recognize, honor and cultivate academic innovation and entrepreneurship.

The theme for this year’s Annual Meeting was “Connecting the Innovation Community” and the conference promoted networking between innovative thought leaders to assist in propelling and transforming the innovation ecosystem. 

Dr. Lakshmi Nair is pictured here with Michele Tyrpak, JD, from the University of South Florida and Dr. Christine Schmidt, from the University of Florida.

Dr. Lakshmi Nair is pictured here with Paul Rosenthal, Deputy Chief Communications Officer of the USPTO, Dr. Bahram Javidi, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UConn, and a representative from the National Academy of Inventors.