Maya Pack

What an amazing team we have!

Last Thursday, IMPH convened the inaugural meeting of the Foundations for Success Taskforce. Following opening remarks from Taskforce Chair Michael Leach, members heard from the @EducationSC on the current landscape of early childhood education,

engaged in a panel discussion regarding early care and education, and began developing recommendations. Thank you to our taskforce members, presenters, and panelists for making this first meeting a success. We look forward to continuing this important work together!

IMPH is hiring a Project and Communications Coordinator to help drive our strategic communications and support health policy initiatives. This role is a chance to blend creativity, collaboration, and mission‑driven work to advance evidence‑based health policy.

Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and social media/public relations writing sample(s) to IMPH Senior Director of Operations, Yair Centeno at yair@imph.org. For more information visit our website: imph.org/careers/projec…

IMPH is convening the Foundations for Success Taskforce, a statewide action planning process led by Taskforce Chair and former South Carolina Department of Social Services Director Michael Leach, MMFT.

Experts from across the state will work collaboratively to develop an action plan to reduce suspensions and expulsions among the state’s earliest learners; students enrolled in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. For more information visit: imph.org/taskforces/fou…

IMPH is pleased to announce our new Board Officers! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Shawn Stinson as Board Chair, Mr. Clarence Sevillian as Vice Chair, and Mr. Robert Hughes as Treasurer.

We are deeply grateful for their leadership, service, and dedication to our mission. We look forward to working together to continue advancing IMPH’s work and impact across South Carolina!

@collins_neal Congratulations and thank you for an inspiring message Tuesday night. Keep up the great work!

An eventful first week … previous award winners of the Riley-Wilkins Award is the Hall of Fame of the General Assembly for the past two decades - people known for seriousness, judgment, and service. I’m humbled to now be included. Budget hearings started in earnest. New monies requested by agencies this week: Dept of Ed: $511,302,471 State Museum: $11,360,021 First Steps: $5,000,000 Education Oversight Committee: $0 Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School: $0 As far as teacher pay, the Governor’s Office & Dept of Education are aligned in requesting a $2,000 pay increase. Don’t spend it yet, a long way to go.

This week IMPH hosted the 2025-2026 Health Policy Fellows for the third and final session of the program. During this session, subject matter experts and IMPH staff provided technical assistance to legislators on two topics with policy opportunities: food security and

addressing the behavioral health crisis through the peer workforce. Congratulations to the legislators who completed the program and thank you to all of the subject matter experts who presented or participated in panels for making this another successful program!

IMPH is thrilled to celebrate the promotion of our talented Research Associate, Taryn Farrell, to Research & Policy Manager! Since joining our team, Taryn has consistently brought exceptional insight, dedication, and curiosity to every project.

IMPH will be closed beginning tomorrow, December 23 so our team can rest, rejuvinate, and spend time with family. We will be back on January 2.

On November 20th, IMPH brought together food systems experts from across the state for a SC Roadmap policy think tank session at @SCHospitals. These conversations are key to informing policymakers on the nonmedical drivers of health and we’re excited for what comes next!

This week IMPH hosted the 2025 Health Policy Fellows Cohort for the second session of the program. During this session, legislators learned how the health care sector has evolved and received insights on anticipated changes.

Additionally, SC Department of Health and Human Services leadership provided updates on efforts the agency is doing to improve outcomes for South Carolina's Medicaid population.

Last week, IMPH Executive Director Maya Pack shared our work on access to care in rural SC to improve outcomes for moms and babies at SC's 28th Annual Rural Health Conference. Thank you @scruralhealth Health for the invitation and partnership!

Learn more about IMPH’s work on access to care for rural moms and babies: imph.org/taskforces/mat…

Last Friday, Executive Director Maya Pack and SC Roadmap Policy Director Amy Weaver participated in the 8th Annual Live Healthy SC Conference.