Dr. Jeffrey Stringer wins 2025 O. Max Gardner Award
The UNC System gave him its highest faculty honor for his innovative work in global maternal health.
Dr. Jeffrey S.A. Stringer, the Clarke-Pearson Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine, received the 2025 Oliver Max Gardner Award for his work on maternal healthcare in low-resource settings around the world.
Established in the will of former North Carolina Gov. O. Max Gardner, the award is the highest faculty honor in the 17-campus UNC System. It is presented annually to an individual “who has made the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.” Stringer was recognized during the May 15 UNC Board of Governors meeting.
The director of UNC’s global women’s health division, Stringer does research focused on preterm birth, HIV/AIDS in women and children, and obstetrical outcomes where resources are scarce. He holds appointments in the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
“Dr. Stringer exemplifies the highest ideals of public service, combining research, innovation and global impact,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “He has tackled one of the most enduring and tragic health disparities — maternal mortality — with the conviction that thoughtful innovation can save lives.”
Stringer recently led an interdisciplinary team from the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and the University of Zambia School of Medicine in a study establishing the diagnostic accuracy of an innovative ultrasound AI algorithm for determining gestational age. Using machine learning algorithms developed at Carolina and incorporated into the software of a handheld ultrasound system, the research found that providers with minimal training can accurately estimate a baby’s gestational age using the device. This innovation could improve pregnancy care in areas with limited access to sonographers and high-end ultrasound machines.
Stringer also co-founded and led the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, living in the country between 2001 and 2012. Since the center’s inception, it has expanded maternal and child care to more than 1.6 million people across 350 sites. He is the author of nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications, including maternal HIV care research that has shaped worldwide guidelines. Stringer also co-founded the nation’s first global women’s health fellowship for obstetrician-gynecologists, training more than 180 early-career professionals from the U.S. and Zambia.
