Executive Group

Director of Nursing and Performance Improvement

Professional/Educational Background: B.S. in Spanish and Nursing, East Carolina University; M.S. in Nursing, East Carolina University. Michelle is the Infection control committee co-chair and has been working in college health since 1998.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: She’s interested in travel and the topic of infection control.
Joined Campus Health: 2005

Director of Sports Medicine, Medical Doctor

Professional/Educational Background: BS in Biochemical Engineering, Columbia University; MD, New Jersey Medical School.
Dr. Mario Ciocca has served as a team physician at the University of North Carolina since 1996 and was appointed Director of Sports Medicine in January 2010. He is currently the head primary care physician for football, baseball, and men’s soccer teams. He is board certified in internal medicine and has a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. He is an active member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Ciocca is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Orthopedics at UNC and is involved with the lecturing of students and residents at the undergraduate school as well as the medical and nursing school.
Family: Dr. Ciocca and his wife Cindy have four children, Luke, Jack, Michael and Gabrielle.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: He has authored journal articles and book chapters on subjects including cardiac conditions, concussions, creatine, medications and supplements, psoriatic arthritis, pneumothorax, heterotopic ossification, and vascular conditions in athletes.
Joined Campus Health: January 2010

Director of CAPS

Professional/Educational Background: B.A., Davidson College; MSW with a concentration in mental health from UNC Chapel Hill
Hobbies/Sports: They enjoy being outside, either hiking or biking, reading, and time with family and friends.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: Avery enjoys working with students on a variety of issues including crisis work, adjustment, anxiety, depression, substance abuse as well as issues related to LGB clients, gender identity, and gender expression. In working with clients, they take an eclectic approach, utilizing a variety of approaches based on what best meets the needs of the clients.

Health Information Manager/Privacy Officer

Professional/Educational Background: B.S. in Health Information Management, East Carolina University
Joined Campus Health: 2001

Executive Assistant

Medical Practice Manager

Professional/Educational Background: B.S. in Public Administration, CUNY. 20+ years of Healthcare experience at The Brooklyn Hospital. State of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Cardiac Cath Lab Manager.
Originally from: Virginia.
Hobbies/Sports: Traveling, Cooking, and Youth Ministry.
Joined Campus Health: 2009

Medical Director

Professional and Educational Background: I’m a lifelong resident of North Carolina, and a UNC-CH graduate (BA, 1989). I obtained my MD from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1993 and completed my residency training at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in 1996.
I’ve practiced Primary Care Internal Medicine for almost 3 decades.
I’m honored to serve as Medical Director of UNC Campus Health.

Director of Business and Support Services

Professional/Educational Background: University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been employed with UNC Chapel Hill since 1992. She began her UNC career in the Department of Dermatology
Hobbies/Sports: She enjoys spending time with her family and pet.
Pets: She has a corgi named Jack.
Joined Campus Health: 2001

Associate Director of Sports Medicine

Professional/Educational Background: B.S. in Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University; Masters in Athletic Training, UNC. Scott Oliaro was named head athletic trainer and associate director of sports medicine in 2013. In addition to his role as the associate director, he also serves as the head athletic trainer for field hockey, men’s and women’s golf and softball teams.
Originally from/hometown: Lansing, Michigan
Family: He and his wife, Jeri, reside in Chapel Hill with their daughter, Mia Katherine, and son, Tyler Michael.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: In 1996, he worked the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Joined Campus Health: 2013

Executive Director

Professional/Educational Background: MHA in Hospital and Healthcare Management, Duke University.
Ken Pittman has over 30 years of experience in hospital and healthcare leadership. As Executive Director he has senior level responsibility for UNC’s Joint Commission-accredited Campus Health and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). During his career, he has served as Chief Operating Officer of a 300-bed community hospital in eastern North Carolina, CEO/Turnaround Specialist for three operationally- and financially-challenged hospitals in the Southeast, and a healthcare management consultant. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ken has served as President of the Southern College Health Association and he is an active member of the American College Health Association.
Joined Campus Health: 2011

Director of Pharmacy and Professional Services

Professional/Educational Background: B.S. in Pharmacy, UNC; PharmD, UNC
Hobbies/Sports: In her free time, she enjoys running, performing with her church handbell choir, spending time with her family, and all things Disney.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: Amy has extended professional interests in asthma disease management, contraception, and medication safety.

Special Projects and Communication Manager for Health and Well-being

Professional/Educational Background: B.A. in English, University of Wisconsin – Madison; M.A. in Student Development in Higher Education, University of Iowa.
Sara is the Special Projects and Communication Coordinator for Health and Well-being. In this role, she supports broad health and well-being initiatives for the campus including the JED Campus partnership, Mental Health Seminar series, and Heels Care Network. In addition, Sara coordinates Campus Health and CAPS marketing and communication initiatives including the Healthy Heels social media channels. Prior to this role, she served as a health educator at UNC, coordinating wellness paraprofessional staff including the sexual health educators, alcohol and other drug intervention specialists, health promotion specialists and nutrition education consultant.
Joined Campus Health: 2007

President of Medical Staff

Professional/Educational Background: B.S., Duke University; M.D., UNC.
After completing a residency in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, she returned to Chapel Hill for her Sports Medicine fellowship which she completed in 2001.
Dr. Waicus is the primary team physician for volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s fencing, and cheerleading.
Originally from/hometown: Moorestown, NJ
Family: She is married to Tom O’Connell and has two daughters, Kelsey and Caroline.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?: She is board certified in Pediatrics and has a certificate of added qualification in Sports Medicine.
Joined Campus Health: 2005