Arthur J. Coury

Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient

College of Science and Engineering, May 10, 2013

Arthur J. Coury received both his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the College of Science and Engineering (1965) and MBA in business administration from the Carlson School of Management (1980) at the University of Minnesota. He is recognized as a world leader in biomedical device research and bringing medical technology to market. His career began at General Mills Chemical, Inc. in Minneapolis, where he was a Senior Research Chemist for 11 years. Dr. Coury then began an impressive career, rising through the ranks, first at Medtronic, then at Focal, and then at Genzyme, ultimately assuming positions of Director of Corporate Research (Medtronic), Chief Scientific Officer (Focal), and Vice President for Biomaterials Research (Genzyme). He holds over 50 patents in the medical device industry, which have made a significant impact on human health, including coatings for medical devices such as pacemakers, biomedical adhesives and tissue sealants, thromboresistant materials, cardiovascular stents, controlled drug release agents, and hydrogels for orthopedic repair, to name a few. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Innovation and Technology Development Award of the Society for Biomaterials (2007), the Society for Biomaterials Founders Award (2011), and the 2012 AIMBE Pierre Galletti Award. In 2008, he was named as one of the “100 Notable People in the Medical Device Industry” by MD&DI magazine, and in 2009, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. He retired in 2008, but continues to contribute to the academic communities through his service on advisory boards for academic departments at leading universities such as Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota. He also serves as a member on the Board of Directors or as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of 12 corporations. In addition, Dr. Coury has contributed to the University of Minnesota by teaching classes in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.