University of North Carolina Athletics
Ciocca Wins Prestigious Massey Award
June 8, 2021 | General
Dr. Mario Ciocca, Director of Sports Medicine has been awarded the C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award. Eight Carolina employees will receive the 2021 C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, one of the most prestigious distinctions for faculty and staff. Established in 1980 by the late C. Knox Massey '25 of Durham, the award recognizes "unusual, meritorious or superior contributions" by University employees. Given the exceptional year spent dealing with the global COVID-19 pandemic, the University is bestowing eight awards, rather than the usual six.
Dr. Ciocca who has been at Carolina for 22 years, serves as chief medical officer for Carolina's 28 varsity sports teams, overseeing one of the most respected sports medicine departments in the country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ciocca spearheaded efforts that have allowed 800 student-athletes to stay safe and continue to compete. He provided some normalcy while modeling professionalism and care with composure, personal attention, relentless accessibility and energy. He showed incredible leadership, an enormous work ethic and consistently demonstrated a calm, composed and supportive demeanor in high-stress scenarios, while garnering a high level of trust and respect from those working with him.
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