Lou Soslowsky, Ph.D. to Receive Lissner Medal From ASME

Louis J. Soslowsky, Ph.D., the Fairhill Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), has been named as the recipient of the H.R. Lissner Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

According to the University of Pennsylvania, “The medal recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of bioengineering and is widely viewed as the highest honor in the bioengineering community. The H. R. Lissner Award is named in honor of Professor H. R. Lissner of Wayne State University for his pioneering work in biomechanics, which began in 1939.”

Dr. Soslowsky, associate dean for research integration and the founding director of the Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders, will receive his award at the World Congress of Biomechanics in Dublin, Ireland, in the summer 2018.

In making its selection the Society cited Soslowsky “for outstanding contributions toward the understanding, prevention, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries to tendinous and ligamentous tissues; and for internationally recognized leadership in the biomechanics community.”

“He has published more than 200 peer reviewed articles in professional journals. His honors and awards include the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughan Award, Charles S. Neer Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research (twice), American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Hughston Award, Whitaker Foundation Special Opportunity Award, the ASME Y.C. Fung Young Investigator Award, and the Outstanding Mentorship Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society.”

“Soslowsky is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.”

Dr. Soslowsky, who received his Ph.D. in engineering mechanics in 1991 from Columbia University, told OTW, “My group is involved in a number of exciting studies in tendon and ligament injury and repair. We have strong efforts in understanding fundamental structure-function relationships, that is, how the composition and organization of a tissue relate to its mechanical function.”

“These relationships are critical toward understanding of how tissues function, but also as a guidepost to assess healing following injury through various treatment modalities, as well as to develop tissue engineering adjuvants or replacements.”

“We utilize many biologically-driven models to investigate mechanical response and have assembled a multi-disciplinary team of investigators, staff, and trainees for this goal. We are excited about continuing to bring our work from the bench to the bedside.”