PITTSBORO, N.C. — On May 18, 2026, the Chatham County Board of Health announced its award winners, honoring both a Chatham County Public Health Department employee and a community partner whose work has strengthened public health infrastructure across Chatham County.

This year’s honorees were Kyle Pasche (Chambers), Chatham County Public Health Department Communications Strategist, who was named Employee of the Year, and the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, which received the Community Partnership of the Year Award.

Chambers was recognized for his leadership in strengthening the department’s communications, expanding public health storytelling, and supporting major initiatives — including the Community Assessment and regional partnership projects.  

According to his nominations, “Kyle consistently strives for excellence in all independent and collaborative projects. [His] dedication to collaborating across divisions, building external partnerships, and continuously reimaging communication strategies makes him a valuable member of the CCPHD team.”

The North Carolina Institute for Public Health was also honored with the Community Partnership of the Year Award. Nominators highlighted NCIPH’s longstanding partnership with CCPHD, including nearly a decade of support for the Community Assessment. In addition, NCIPH was recognized for its support of major initiatives that have strengthened public health work in Chatham County, such as the NC Public Health Pathways Program, Photo Library Project, and regional communications collaboratives.

“We are so grateful to and proud of this year’s award recipients,” said Chatham County Public Health Director Mike Zelek. “Kyle is a wonderful communications expert, collaborator, and colleague, and we are very fortunate to have him on the CCPHD team. Our partnership with NCIPH dates back many years, and their expertise and support have been instrumental in implementing the innovative work our staff lead.”  

For previous Board of Health award winners, visit https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/public-health/board-of-health/board-of-health-awards. To learn more about the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, visit https://sph.unc.edu/nciph/nciph-home/