CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story incorrectly stated the name of one of Joseph DeSimone’s most well-known inventions. He invented a bio-absorbable coronary heart stent. The story has been updated to reflect this change. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
With his election earlier this month to the Institute of Medicine, he has joined a select group of accomplished individuals to be named to all three U.S. National Academies. He is the first professor in North Carolina to receive this esteemed honor.
Prior to the Institute of Medicine, DeSimone was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2005 and the National Academy of Sciences in 2012. He said he is excited about the honor as a recognition of his research.
“We have been fostering what’s referred to as ‘convergent research,’ and it is a validation of our approach in a really significant way,” he said.
Convergent research is a collaboration of different approaches in order to examine and solve a problem. DeSimone works in many different fields such as chemistry, physics and engineering in order to create inventions to improve the lives of many.
Radiation oncology professor Andrew Wang accredits DeSimone’s success to his ability to bring his ideas to life.
“He’s got the full package of being able to translate science. He’s not just a scientist; he’s an innovator. He’s an inventor,” Wang said.
“He’s UNC’s treasure.”