Arati Prabhakar (left) presenting Teresa Woodruff (right) with the National Medal of Science.
Photo credit MSU Today
Teresa K. Woodruff joined an elite group of Americans who have received two national medals of honor when President Joe Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science on Jan. 3.
Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented Woodruff with the medal at a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on the same date.
Established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. A statement from the White House said that “those who earn these awards embody the promise of America by pushing the boundaries of what is possible. These trailblazers have harnessed the power of science and technology to tackle challenging problems and deliver innovative solutions for Americans and for communities around the world.”
The first person from Michigan State University to receive the National Medal of Science, Woodruff has made significant global contributions in scientific research, improvements to the scientific process and broadening of research teams. Woodruff, who also received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2011, is an MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at MSU College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at MSU’s College of Engineering. She was named provost of MSU in August 2020 and served as the university’s interim president from 2022-2024.
Woodruff’s scientific work is focused on the female reproductive system. She has made breakthroughs in molecular science, reproductive medicine and cancer research. Three independent discoveries from her lab have been cited as “Discoveries of the Year” by Discover magazine and one by the Chinese Academy of Medicine. She has more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles, including interim president at Michigan State University.
“Teresa Woodruff is an outstanding scientist, leader and humanitarian,” said MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz. “Her oncofertility research has given thousands of patients and their families hope for a better future. Along the way, she has mentored hundreds of students at every level and at every opportunity. And of course, Spartans around the world appreciated her service as interim president of MSU. I have been honored to follow in her footsteps.”
Woodruff created an entirely new field of science — oncofertility — that combines oncology and reproductive health. And she has rallied to include more women in the scientific process, leading to awards for mentorship. She is now one of the world’s leading fertility experts.
“I’m humbled to receive this award,” Woodruff said. “I have had the honor and pleasure to work with so many students and collaborators throughout my career. My fundamental belief is science should help tomorrow’s patients be treated better than today’s. This means we need to take our discoveries and turn them toward patient needs. And that includes broadening the pipeline of researchers in the field, advancing our discoveries from the bench to the bedside, and expanding the corridors of communication between physician groups and others who are in health care.”