Dr. James Picardi, MD FACP joins the Northwest Florida Blood Center as Medical Director on March 1, 2001.    Born in Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Picardi obtained his MD at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.  His postgraduate medical training includes an Internship in Internal Medicine – St. Joseph Hospital, Syracuse, NY; Fellowship in Internal Medicine – Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN; Fellowship in Infectious Diseases – University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.  During his active career he has served as Director of Infection Control – US Naval Hospital; Director of Infection Control – West Florida Regional Medical Center; Consultant to Microbiology Laboratory – West Florida Regional Medical Center.  Since closing his practice he has been a Lecturer and Consultant in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. 

    Dr. Picardi assumed his position from Dr. Gerard Hilbert.  Dr. Hilbert retired after serving as Medical Director for the blood center since 1959 and as a board member since 1955.  Dr. Hilbert served as Escambia County Medical Society President in 1963.