The Noyes’ gratitude for the university’s support and their desire to continue patient-focused research were behind their decision to make an estate gift creating two endowed chairs. The donation will be divided between the Frank R. Noyes, MD and JoAnne Noyes, RN Endowed Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Frank R. Noyes, MD Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the College of Medicine.
“I am enormously proud of the research my husband has conducted and of the collaboration he has built with UC, particularly through orthopaedics led by Dr. Michael Archdeacon and the biomedical engineering department led by Dr. Tom Talavage,” said JoAnne, a biomedical engineering department advisory board member. “Their dedication, innovation and commitment to advancing science and patient care are remarkable. For us, this gift is really an investment in the future—in research, in education and young scientists and clinicians, and ultimately in better options for care for patients, our community and beyond.”
David Butler, PhD; Edward Grood, PhD; JoAnne Noyes, Frank Noyes, MD. Photo/Corrie Mayer/Marketing and Brand/CEAS.
Both departments have earned national and international awards for groundbreaking work. Dr. Noyes says he is especially proud of training future leaders. For example, more than 190 orthopaedic surgeons have completed fellowships at Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center since its inception and now practice at some of the nation’s top institutions. Numerous UC engineering graduates and PhD students are advancing science and patient care as researchers and professors.
“Dr. Noyes is an icon in orthopaedic surgery, pioneering the relationship between orthopaedic surgery and biomedical engineering,” said Michael T. Archdeacon, MD, MSE, senior associate dean for clinical affairs, Peter J. Stern Endowed Chair & Professor. “His contributions and those he has mentored and taught span the development of surgical procedures, surgical instruments and implants as well as protocols to reduce and prevent injuries.”
“JoAnne has been a spectacular partner to our department with her background in nursing,” said Tom Talavage, PhD, professor and department head, biomedical engineering. “Both are hugely dedicated to UC and deeply engaged in our department.”
More about Frank and JoAnne Noyes
Dr. Noyes’ dedication to UC also includes his 1975-1983 position as UC team orthopaedic surgeon. He is an emeritus professor at the College of Medicine and a volunteer professor at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Among his many accolades and achievements, he said he is proud of receiving the UC President’s Award for Excellence in 1989, as well as being the first division head of orthopaedic sports medicine and first director of orthopaedic research at UC.
Dr Noyes achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the Air Force Medical Research Laboratory. He has been elected to the Sports Medicine Hall of Fame by the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine. Dr. Noyes has participated in over 400 peer-reviewed publications, authored many textbooks and lectured around the country and globe.
JoAnne is a registered nurse with more than four decades of healthcare experience with a focus on critical care, cardiac catheterization, nursing education and sales. She has served on the board of the American Heart Association and is active with the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
The couple were recently honored with the American Heart Association’s Creighton B. Wright Healthcare Leadership award for their long-time support of the organization and dedication to the healthcare profession and community. The couple have three children and five grandchildren.
Their long-time support of the university includes the creation of the Frank R. Noyes, MD and JoAnne Noyes, BS, RN Endowed Eminent Visiting Scholar in Sports Medicine and Bioengineering. This is a combined effort with the Noyes Knee Institute, the Cincinnati SportsMedicine and Orthopaedic Center, the Cincinnati SportsMedicine Research and Education Foundation and UC’s Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering Departments to promote MD-PhD bioengineering developments in orthopaedic surgery. It brings renowned researchers and practitioners together to present on patient treatment advances for residents, fellows and staff at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The Cincinnati SportsMedicine Research and Education Foundation was established in 1981.
Featured image at top: Frank and JoAnne Noyes at the Frank R. Noyes, MD Tissue Engineering and Biomechanics Lab at the UC Bioscience Center. Photo/Corrie Mayer/Marketing and Brand/CEAS.