After more than a quarter century of service to United Way, president and CEO Susan B. Dunn has announced her plans to retire in March 2016 from the United Way.
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After more than a quarter century of service to United Way, president and CEO Susan B. Dunn has announced her plans to retire in March 2016 from the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. She was the first woman to lead the organization since its founding in 1924 and only the fifth staff leader in its 90-year history.
Paula Gilberto, senior vice president, will become president and CEO after Dunn's departure in March 2016. Gilberto joined United Way in March 1998 as vice president, community services overseeing the organization's nonprofit resource and volunteer centers.
In January 2007 she was named senior vice president expanding her responsibilities in resource development, community engagement and development of community initiatives.
Dunn joined United Way in 1990 as communications director. In November 2006, the board of directors named her president and CEO after the sudden death of George Bahamonde.
Over the course of her United Way career, Dunn was responsible for the annual fundraising effort, raising 69 percent of the $938 million raised since 1924 to benefit the local community.
During her tenure as president and CEO, she saw the highest amount raised in any year — $28 million in 2008.
”I leave the organization with a sense of pride in the way our United Way has changed over time to meet the 21st century needs of our community and our donors. I am proud that our United Way has put a stake in the ground around children's success in school and family financial stability while continuing to support a safety net of services,” said Dunn.
UConn unveils ambitious knee regeneration research
The University of Connecticut announced last week the launch of its new grand research challenge: regeneration of a human knee within 7 years, and an entire limb within 15 years. The major international research undertaking is called The HEAL Project: Hartford Engineering a Limb.
According to UConn, it is the brainchild of UConn Health's Cato T. Laurencin, a leading surgeon-scientist in orthopaedic surgery, engineering and the new field of regenerative engineering. His laboratory research successes include the growth of bone and knee ligaments.
For the project, Laurencin is teaming with other tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and bioengineering experts dedicated to the mission of advancing the fields and developing future therapies for patients living with musculoskeletal defects or who have limb injury or loss.
“The launch of the HEAL Project is a transformative moment for science and medicine,” said Laurencin. “This is the first international effort ever for knee and limb engineering. The time is now to pursue this much needed super, grand challenge to benefit those patients suffering from debilitating knee injuries, osteoarthritis, or affected by the devastating effects of limb injury or loss.”
The HEAL Project's launch is supported by Laurencin's recent $4 million Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health for his research in regenerative engineering, as well as his grant award from the National Science Foundation for Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation.
Laurencin serves as director of The Institute for Regenerative Engineering and the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn Health.
Murphy’s ‘Buy American’ amendment moves to president
The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 last week, which included Sen. Chris Murphy's “Buy American” amendment requiring new transparency when the Department of Defense tries to use loopholes to get around purchasing goods made in America.
The defense bill now heads to President Obama for his signature.
“By opening up tank-sized loopholes in the Buy American Act, the Pentagon is sending taxpayer money overseas instead of supporting businesses here in the United States,” said Murphy. “I will continue working to ensure that the pressure to buy American never lets up.”
The bill also made significant investments in Connecticut's critical defense manufacturing industry, Murphy said. It includes over $7 billion to build the next generation of submarines made by Electric Boat in Groton, $12.2 billion for the Joint Strike Fighters with engines built by Pratt & Whitney in Middletown, and $2.6 billion for Blackhawk helicopters built by Sikorsky in Stratford, Murphy said.
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