8th Annual Live Healthy SC Conference

From Vision to Action: Shaping the Future of Health in SC

November 7, 2025 • Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

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Together we are Live Healthy

The 8th Annual Live Healthy SC Conference is where South Carolina’s health leaders, advocates, and community partners come together to drive meaningful change.

This year’s conference marks a historic moment as the South Carolina Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Alliance and partners from across the state, launches the new State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Built through collaboration and guided by the Live Healthy SC priorities, the SHIP provides a clear roadmap for advancing health, strengthening partnerships, and achieving measurable improvements in health outcomes.

Through inspiring sessions, shared best practices, and intentional networking, the Live Healthy SC Conference creates space for collaboration that builds trust and aligns resources. Together, we can amplify what works, tackle what’s next, and move South Carolina toward a healthier future.

Call for Presenters

The Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina invites you to share programs, projects, and best practices that support the Live Healthy SC State Health Improvement Plan.

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LIVE HEALTHY SC PRIORITIES

Health Equity (Chronic Health Conditions)
Behavioral & Mental Health
Maternal & Infant Health
Affordable & Nutritious Foods
Safe & Affordable Places to be Physically Active
Education
Income & Poverty
Access to High Quality Care
Neighborhood & Community Development

Call for Nominations

The Live Healthy SC Awards program recognizes those individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest levels of commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of communities they serve. Those who receive this recognition will serve as visible examples of how the LHSC blueprint can be effectively achieved in practice.

Questions? Email alliance@healthiersc.org

AWARD CATEGORIES

Dr. Rick Foster Leadership Award
An individual who has served as a champion for health and health equity at a local, regional or state level, and exemplify in action the key LHSC aims, priorities and goals are eligible for the Capstone Leader award.

Community Innovation Award
A community coalition or community-based organization who demonstrates active engagement in leading and guiding innovative work for community health improvement and the elimination of health disparities.

State Impact Award
A state level organization or coalition who demonstrates a commitment to support and take action under the LHSC plan, using a collaborative approach for state health improvement.

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Meet our Speakers

Monty Robertson is a recognized leader in driving statewide community health improvement and advancing health equity in South Carolina. As Executive Director of the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina, he brings together public and private partners to address health disparities and implement sustainable solutions.
With over a decade of experience, Monty has played a key role in developing and implementing the South Carolina State Health Improvement Plan, aligning efforts across sectors to improve health outcomes statewide. His leadership has strengthened collaboration among healthcare, government, and community organizations, creating lasting impact.
A Furman Riley Institute Fellow, Monty also serves on the boards of the SC Interagency Council on Homelessness and Family Connection SC. He holds a master of health administration from the University of South Carolina and a BS in Biology from Furman University.

Richele Taylor is the current CEO and Chief Legal Officer at the South Carolina Medical Association. Richele has over fifteen years of experience as an employment and labor attorney, assisting local, national, and multinational companies; state agencies; and non-profits in all areas of employment law. In their previous positions, they have handled litigation in both federal and state court, ranging from employment related cases to trust management and accounting cases. Richele has also worked on union avoidance campaigns and NLRB filings, and has Arbitrated FINRA claims. In addition to their work in the legal field, Richele has also conducted audits and investigations in the workplace.
Richele Taylor has a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Kobra Eghtedary is a visionary and transformative leader with more than 25 years of scientific research, data analytics insights, and population health leadership experience. As a member of SCDPH leadership team, she creates a collaborative solution-building community with health equity and analytics intertwined to create actionable insights. Currently, her focus is the implementation of the State Health Improvement Plan by engaging multisector thought leaders from across the state through partnership and strategic alignments to improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians.

Steven is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Constellation Quality Health and serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Healthier South Carolina, the Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care, Leadership North Carolina, and the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. An experienced and empathetic leader, Steven previously served as a Vice President within Atrium Health’s Quality Division.
Steven holds a Master of Health Administration from MUSC and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wofford College. His credentials include Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

Dr. Pearson has worked in public health in South Carolina for nearly 30 years, and his history of collaborative engagement spans an array of public health priorities. He holds a Doctor of Public Health degree in health promotion, education, and behavior, and he currently serves as the Executive Director of Operations and Accreditation in the Arnold School of Public Health. Dr. Pearson is a member of the steering committee which guided the development of the State Health Improvement Plan, and he served on the editorial team.

Janet R. Bell is the South Carolina Department of Mental Health's (SCDMH) Director of Program Access.
In her role at SCDMH, Bell works as a member of the Executive Advisory Committee to shepherd development of agency strategies and resources to develop person centered care and workforce demonstrating respect, value, awareness, and attention to the needs of all people encountered in addressing the mental health needs of SC’s citizens.

Shawn is a graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine and performed his residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in internal medicine. He practiced internal medicine for over 20 years while holding administrative responsibilities for the USC School of Medicine and Palmetto Health (now Prisma Health Midlands) before moving to work on population health and payment reform at BCBSSC. He has served on the Board of the Alliance for a Healthier SC for over 10 years and is committed to supporting statewide efforts to improve the health of all South Carolinians.

Renee Linyard-Gary, DHA, MBA is the assistant vice president of community health at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, where she leads the work of the Community Health division as well as frontline services around healthcare access and community benefit. Renee has over 20 years of experience in various healthcare roles. Renee is recognized as an expert in sound, data-based approaches for delivering patient-centered care that also addresses social determinants of health. She recently received the Charleston Chamber’s Diversity Champion of the Year Award recognizing her leadership and commitment to creating a workplace and/or community where everyone can thrive.

Casey, MPH, has 20 years of experience in the non-profit and for profit sectors, holding senior leadership roles in clinical, community and behavioral health. Her work has supported the development, acceleration and sustainability of start-ups across the US. Casey holds certifications as an International Project Manager, Community Development Delivery Professional and ESG expert. She is a member of NAMI Greenville and serves on the SouthEast Regional Board of NPCA. Having published over 500 articles and conducted an Independent Study in community health, today, Casey serves as the Executive Director for Clubhouse South Carolina and Officer of Expansion at Clubhouse International.

Dr. Taquina Davis brings over fifteen years of experience in advocacy, health and racial equity, community engagement, and health care delivery to Health E Strategies. She is committed to enhancing health equity through program development and chronic disease prevention. As a leader in community health, Dr. Davis has significantly improved health outcomes in underserved communities by developing and implementing evidence-based wellness programs. She has also advised various community coalitions and committees to advance public health practices. Dr. Davis holds an MA in Health and Wellness with a concentration in alternative medicine and a Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion.

Crystal Davis is the Founder of MaternaLink Consulting, LLC, and a 2025 graduate of the Nonprofit State Policy Fellowship with the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. She serves as Director of Parenting Programs with Charleston County First Steps and is a member of the Beloved Early Education (BEE) & Care Collective. Certified in perinatal mental health, Crystal leverages her lived experience as a Black woman to advocate for culturally congruent maternal and perinatal mental health care, community education, and systems-level change, working to improve health outcomes and support families across South Carolina.

Ms. Pack has been working to support improved health and health care in South Carolina since 1998. As Executive Director of the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, Ms. Pack works with the Board of Directors to provide vision and strategic direction to the Institute and oversees the organization’s operations.
Ms. Pack joined the IMPH team in 2009 and has a diverse background that includes working in strategic planning in the hospital setting, consulting for various nonprofit and health care organizations, and developing programs and informing policies to improve the quality of health care.

Dara Brown earned her MPH from the Arnold School of Public Health in 2001 and has nearly 25 years of experience in physical activity, health education, and behavior change. After completing the Physical Activity and Public Health course in 2022, she became more involved in built environment work. In 2023, she participated in South Carolina’s Walkability Action Institute and became a National Walking College Fellow. Dara now serves as the Active Communities Coordinator for the Department of Public Health’s Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention section, where she leads a statewide walkability collaborative and serves as South Carolina’s state-level expert.

Rowan Goodrich is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nutrition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She serves as a Program Manager at the South Carolina Department on Aging and oversees federally mandated programs under the Older Americans Act; Nutrition Services and Evidence-Based Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Rowan brings a diverse background in nutrition and dietetics, having previously served as the Director of a large-volume catering company specializing in meal services for older adults. She also has experience in acute care providing medical nutrition therapy to older adults with complex health needs.

With 15 years of experience spanning dispatch to leadership, Graham has made a lasting impact on EMS in South Carolina. He played a key role in launching the state’s first Rural Primary Care Provider Community Paramedic partnership, a groundbreaking initiative that expanded paramedic services to underserved areas. His dedication to innovation and community-focused care continues to shape the future of EMS.

Daniel leads Lions Vision Services (LVS) as President and CEO. He is the fifth and youngest CEO in the organization’s 50+ year history. While at LVS, he has founded the Palmetto Vision Alliance, created a statewide vision health program with multiple agencies, and overseen the implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System and Results Based Accountability framework. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, a Master’s Degree in Philanthropy and Development, the Certified Fund Raising Executive certification, is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina, and is a South Carolina Ports Ambassador. He is a prolific civic leader serving on many boards and commissions.

Dr. Vicki Young currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association. As the CEO, Dr. Young works to ensure that federally funded community health centers that provide vital services to medically underserved communities in the state are strengthened and have the capacity for growth. In addition, she is responsible for the overall operation of the Association. This includes overseeing the SC Agricultural Worker Health Program and the SC Health Center Controlled Network, both funded by the Bureau of Primary Health Care, along with forecasting and planning the future direction of the organization.

Jenny lives in Columbia, SC with her husband, Jim, and two sons while serving as the Director of Stakeholder Feedback and Qualitative Research for the Education Oversight Committee. Before that she served as the Part B 619 Coordinator at the South Carolina Department of Education. Previously she served as a Research Associate for the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, while completing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and M.Ed. in Educational Research from the University of South Carolina. Before graduate school, Jenny taught special education in a public elementary school in Nashville, TN after undergraduate school at Vanderbilt.

Dr. Aimeé Carter is the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for the SC Technical College System. She manages efforts to shape and evaluate curriculum across the state’s 16 technical colleges, ensuring programs stay economically relevant and student focused. Dr. Carter guides grant initiatives and collaborates with education and industry partners to keep student success front and center. With a collaborative team, Aimeé works to support and empower faculty and staff—helping create environments where both educators and students can thrive.

DJ is President/CEO of Trident United Way. He is focused on uniting the Tri-County to uplift families out of poverty. He's held leadership roles at large non-profits in the U.S including over two decades in United Way Network. DJ earned a Master’s in non-profit management at Alfred University & a J.D. from the David A. Clarke School of Law & is a DC bar member. He met his wife Allison while both were working at UW in Birmingham. They have two daughters Madeleine & Grayson. When not working DJ is riding his Vespa, hiking, & getting crushed by his daughters in Mario Kart.

Bernie Mazyck is the founding President & CEO of South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), the statewide trade association improving quality of life for all South Carolinians by advancing innovative, sustainable solutions in low-wealth communities. Under his leadership, SCACED has driven statewide progress in housing and job creation, generating $400+ million in economic impact and helping secure the SC Community Economic Development Act. He serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board (Charlotte Branch) and others. A graduate of Charleston Southern University and Harvard’s Kennedy School, he has received the Order of the Palmetto and numerous leadership awards.

Sarah Katherine Catalano collaborates with leadership to develop initiatives that amplify the Foundation’s mission. In addition to building and strengthening community relationships across the state, SK represents the Foundation in fostering partnerships and advocacy efforts.
Prior to joining the Foundation in 2022, SK received an M.A. in Counseling and Rehabilitation and worked with the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., as a disability resource coordinator in the Student Disability Resource Center.

Marni Holloway is the Deputy Director of Programs at SC Housing, where she provides leadership and oversight for various affordable housing development, rental compliance, and housing assistance programs.
Holloway has over 25 years of experience in real estate finance and the creation and preservation of affordable housing. She is well-versed in the complexities of housing finance, utilizing multiple complex fund sources.
Holloway has deep roots in the affordable housing industry, having held senior roles at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, most recently as the Multifamily Director. She also served as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Director in Texas.

As City Manager of Columbia, Teresa is visible and engaged in the community. Her commitment to public safety led to her appointment of a respected Police Chief, first Emergency Management Director, and alignment of neighborhood safety with quality of life. Her foresight in hiring Columbia’s first CFO and elevating financial integrity resulted in Columbia earning Awards for Excellence for twelve consecutive years.
Wilson’s leadership during moments of crisis—most notably the historic 2015 flood—revealed a sense of duty and compassion as she coordinated recovery efforts with clarity and resolve. Passionate about economic empowerment and housing, she has championed initiatives that renew neighborhoods, increase homeownership, and build equity for working families.

GP is currently in his second term as Mayor of Fountain Inn where he has led the charge on landmark investments totaling over $28 million in city facilities and infrastructure, economic development, and an overhaul of the city's land use policies. With a population of 14,000, a staff of 200 and an annual budget of $40 million, GP works to balance Fountain Inn’s small town charm with rapid growth.

He was appointed by Gov. McMaster to the State Workforce Development Board and is also currently President of the Association of SC Mayors, among other committees and boards.

Dr. Edward Simmer is the interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, a position held since the agency's creation, July 1, 2024. From Feb. 4, 2021 – June 30, 2024, he was the director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Prior to being confirmed as agency director, Dr. Simmer served over thirty years on active duty in the United States Navy. A native of Ohio, he is board certified in general and forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is certified in administrative psychiatry by the American Psychiatric Association.

On Feb. 27, 2025, Eunice Medina was unanimously confirmed to serve as the director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) by the South Carolina Senate. Ms. Medina was nominated for the role of director on Nov. 6, 2024, by Governor Henry McMaster. Prior to this role, Medina had served as the agency's chief of staff and deputy director of programs since June 2021.
Medina has extensive health care experience including more than 20 years with Medicaid policy and operations.

Steven has worked in both public and private sectors to improve the lives and well-being of children, adults, and families through client advocacy, enhancement of organizational practices, advancing the inclusion of lived experience in systemic decision-making, and increasing access to care and evidence-based services for the citizens of South Carolina. With a strong focus on prevention, Steven emphasizes the importance of shifting the system to support families further upstream. Steven believes that we can collaboratively facilitate the change needed to strengthen families and their communities through intentional cross-sector partnerships and community engagement strategies.