John Drazan, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, was honored on Feb. 7, with the Fairfield University inaugural 2025 Fred Nelson Scientific Communication Award at the Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Fred Nelson Scientific Communication Award honors individuals who have significantly engaged the public in orthopedic research. Drazan received this recognition for his contributions to science communication in musculoskeletal biomechanics. As the director of the community-situated biomechanics lab at Fairfield’s Innovation Annex, his research focuses on muscle structure and function, exploring how muscles adapt to aging, injury and training. He He is dedicated to making musculoskeletal research more accessible by developing mobile research tools that bring biomechanics into the community.
Dean of the School of Engineering and Computing, Andres Leonardo Carrano, Ph.D., commended Drazan’s achievement, saying, “It is remarkable to have Dr. Drazan’s research recognized by the leading research society in the pursuit of a world without musculoskeletal limitations. His translational research is profoundly impactful for our communities, particularly our youth and perfectly embodies the mission of our Jesuit institution,” he said.
A former collegiate basketball player, Drazan merges his passion for sports and science to create STEM outreach programs, reaching more than 25,000 youth across the nation through his community-engaged research at Fairfield and through 4th Family Inc., a nonprofit outreach organization for which he serves as STEM director. His initiatives have been highlighted at major events, including the NBA Summer League, an off-season basketball competition, in Las Vegas.
Drazan said, “Musculoskeletal research is directly applicable to the everyday lives of the public, providing a unique opportunity for us to communicate about both our specific research and the broader scientific discourse. I look forward to continuing to build these communication approaches at the ORS and beyond.”
Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 44 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 46 countries, are enrolled in the University’s five schools.
