Please join us in congratulating Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, Marie Edana Corcoran Endowed Chair in Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Director of the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center, on being named an LSU Boyd Professor.

The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Dr. Katzmarzyk's appointment on September 4, 2026. Established in 1953, the Boyd Professorship is LSU's highest and most distinguished faculty rank, recognizing scholars who have achieved national and international prominence through exceptional academic and research accomplishments.

Dr. Katzmarzyk is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking research on physical activity, sedentary behavior, obesity, chronic disease prevention, pediatric health, and health disparities. Throughout his distinguished career, he has authored more than 745 peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific and medical journals, including The Lancet, JAMA, and The New England Journal of Medicine.

A six-time Highly Cited Researcher, Dr. Katzmarzyk ranks among the world's top 1% of scientists, with more than 58,000 citations and an H-index of 109. His pioneering research helped establish sedentary behavior as an independent risk factor for mortality, significantly influencing public health recommendations and guidelines around the world.

Since joining Pennington Biomedical in 2007, Dr. Katzmarzyk has secured nearly $58 million in research funding as principal investigator from organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the American Heart Association.

Dr. Katzmarzyk serves as Director of the LA CaTS Center and Co-Director for the Pilot Grants Program. This prestigious recognition reflects Dr. Katzmarzyk's extraordinary contributions to science, public health, and LSU's research mission. We are proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement and the impact his work continues to have on improving health outcomes worldwide. Congratulations, Dr. Katzmarzyk, on this well-deserved honor and outstanding accomplishment.