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 real changes require real leaders 

Our roster of seasoned professionals collectively has over 150 years of experience in heathcare, communications and government relations.

We are proud to introduce Integral Leaders in Health.
You may notice some familiar faces.

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Spence Taylor, M.D.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Spence M. Taylor, M.D. is a nationally recognized academic physician leader with 30 years of  experience as a senior executive, surgeon, full professor and researcher. 


Most recently, Dr. Taylor served as president of the Greenville Health System (GHS) — now a  part of Prisma Health. He was the first physician to be named president in the 107-year history  of GHS — a health system with nearly $3 billion in annual operating revenue, eight hospitals,  1,600 beds, 2,000 employed providers, 16,000 employees and an emerging academic health  center.

During his career, Dr. Taylor helped drive the advancement of Academic Medicine in a variety of  roles. In addition to serving as surgical residency program director, department chair, leader of  an employee medical group, Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education  and research, and chief academic officer, Dr. Taylor was the principal developer and Planning  Dean for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville – North America’s 136th  medical school.

Spence Taylor, M.D.
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Cortney Owings Easterling

Director of Engagement & Communications

Cortney Owings Easterling has more than 20 years of strategic communications experience helping  health care systems, banks, non-profit organizations, universities and elected leaders  measurably grow and cultivate constituent, client and employee engagement to build better  relationships, brands and businesses.


Easterling previously served as deputy chief of staff at Greenville Health System (GHS), where  she provided strategic counsel on message development, leadership engagement, executive and board communications, and community outreach to the president. She also led the  development and implementation of all marketing, media relations, communications and  digital strategies related to GHS’ academic health center with partners Clemson University,  Furman University and the University of South Carolina, including the University of South  Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. 

Cortney Easterling
Howell Clyborne, Jr.
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H. Howell Clyborne, Jr.

Director of Strategic Communications & Government Relations

H. Howell Clyborne, Jr., most recently served as president of the Greenville Health  Authority, a governmental entity and political subdivision of the State of South Carolina  which ensures that specific health care needs of Upstate residents are met by Prisma  Health (formerly Greenville Health System). He also simultaneously served as vice  president of Community and Government Affairs and chief of staff for Greenville Health  System (GHS). In these roles, Clyborne led GHS’ communications, marketing, media  relations, governmental affairs and community outreach strategies for the system’s eight hospitals, 2,000 providers and 16,000 employees. 


In addition to his corporate leadership roles, Clyborne has decades of experience in  public service. He is currently the director of the Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs for  the State of South Carolina and formerly was a House of Representative’s appointee to  the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

Clyborne began his career of public service in law enforcement in Greenville, South  Carolina. He served the citizens of Greenville County as a member of the South Carolina  House of Representatives.

Jerry Youkey, M.D.
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Jerry Youkey, M.D.

Director of Physician & Practice Relations

Jerry Youkey, M.D., retired in September 2019 from Prisma Health and the University of  South Carolina following his service as executive vice president and chief academic officer,  founding dean of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and USC  associate provost for Health Sciences – Greenville. Dr. Youkey joined Greenville Health  System (GHS) in 1998. During his 21 years at GHS, he was responsible for expansion of the  health system’s research and education activities; creation of a 1,200 physician group  practice; progressive integration of hospital-physician patient care; and for the growing  University of South Carolina health sciences presence in the Upstate. 


Since retirement, Dr. Youkey has been involved in a number of activities. He served on  Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting agency for all MD medical  schools in the United States and Canada. In October 2021, Dr. Youkey was appointed to  membership of the Greenville Health Authority’s board of trustees, the legacy GHS special  purpose district board. 

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