Biancardi chosen for Staff Excellence Award

November 13, 2015

Kathy Biancardi has won the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health’s 2015 Staff Excellence Award.

Kathy Biancardi (left) and Dr. Herbert Peterson celebrate Biancardi’s Staff Excellence Award at a Schoolwide event on Nov. 12.

Biancardi, public communications specialist in the Department of Maternal and Child Health and assistant to the director of UNC’s World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center, accepted the award at a Schoolwide event on Nov. 12.

She had elicited high praise from colleagues within her department and across the School, who called her the “epitome of professionalism, dedication and service” and commended her for being collegial and supportive, no matter the task at hand.

In fact, Carolyn Halpern, PhD, professor and chair of maternal and child health, called Biancardi the ideal staff member. “She is effective, accountable, knowledgeable and proactive,” Halpern said. “Her many years of service make her a deserving recipient of this award. She is truly an impressive and much-appreciated role model for all of us.”

Stephen Regan, assistant dean for human resources at the Gillings School and the chair of this year’s selection committee, said that there were 34 nominees for the award – all of them highly qualified and respected by their colleagues.

“Kathy is simply invaluable to our program,” said Herbert Peterson, MD, former maternal and child health chair and now director of the WHO Collaborating Center. “Whatever the challenge – whether it’s serving as an exemplary assistant to the chair, as the lead for a major department project, or as the information and communications lead for both the department and our WHO Collaborating Center,  she has been truly exemplary in assuring our success.”

Biancardi joined the School’s staff in 2007, having worked previously for nine years as administrative manager and research/editorial assistant for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 11 years as administrative assistant to the chair of the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“It is a great honor – and certainly a surprise – to receive this award,” Biancardi said. “I am most appreciative of those who nominated me — both faculty and staff members – and am overwhelmed with the kind comments from colleagues. I share the award with so many talented and dedicated staff members at the School – all of whom should be commended for their efforts.”

Biancardi lives outside Pittsboro with her husband, Tony, and enjoys running, hiking and gardening. They have a son in Raleigh.

The award, presented annually since 1991, recognizes those staff members whose work demonstrates impact and a focus on the core values of the School, including personal integrity, inclusion, innovation, adaptability, accountability and collaboration.

Learn more about the Gillings School’s Staff Excellence Award here.