College mourns passing of distinguished alumnus, biomedical innovator Larry Hench

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Alumnus Larry L. Hench passed away on Dec. 16, 2015 at his home in Ft. Meyers, Florida. He was 77.

Hench was honored with the College of Engineering’s prestigious Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal in 1999 for his innovations in materials science and bioscience. In 2007 he received The Ohio State University Alumni Association’s Professional Achievement Award.

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Larry Hench, on right, receiving The Ohio State University Alumni Association award from Archie Griffin

An Ohio State ceramics engineering graduate (BS ’61, PhD ’64), Hench taught materials science engineering at the University of Florida (UF) for 32 years. In that span he invented Bioglass, the first engineered material to bond with living tissues. Bioglass and its derivatives are still used extensively around the world to repair bones, joints and teeth. This Discovery Channel “Future Now” video serves as an excellent tribute to Hench’s innovation.

After retiring from UF, Hench joined Imperial College London, as chair of their Ceramic Materials Department. At Imperial he co-founded and co-directed the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Centre for 10 years. At the time of his death, he was University Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology. In 2014, Hench received the highly acclaimed international 2014 Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal Award, recognizing excellence in biomaterials research and development. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2000.

Hench also authored STEM educational materials and a series of children’s books, published by the American Ceramic Society and Can of Worms Press, featuring Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat.

A celebration of Dr. Hench’s life will be held at the Florida Museum of Natural History on February 12, 2016 from 5:30-8:30 pm. All are welcome.

Read more about Dr. Hench and his accomplishments in his obituary.