Dr. Katsoyannis was a member of the Mount Sinai community for more than 30 years and internationally recognized for being the first to chemically synthesize human insulin. For this groundbreaking work, he was awarded the Commemorative Medallion by the American Diabetes Association. As Founding Chair of the Department of Biochemistry (now the Department of Pharmacological Sciences) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Katsoyannis developed the vibrant graduate and medical school programs that positioned the Department as a leader in the field.
During his lifetime, Dr. Katsoyannis held several patents and his peer-reviewed publications number more than one hundred. He retired as a Distinguished Service Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Biochemistry. Dr. Katsoyannis earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Athens in Greece. He received an honorary degree from the University of Patras in Greece. Dr. Katsoyannis' revolutionary work fundamentally changed the way scientists regarded the structure of proteins. His commitment to Mount Sinai earned him the Health System's highest honor, the Jacobi Medallion.