William Britt, General Counsel
William Britt is General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this role, Britt serves as chief legal counsel for the agency where he oversees the offices of General Counsel, Compliance, Freedom of Information, and Internal Audits.
DPH Procurement Services
Correspondence for the Department of Public Health's Procurement Services Division should be sent to:
P.O. Box 2046
West Columbia, SC 29171
Procurement staff may be reached at the respective numbers below between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except for official holidays.
Scott Jaillette, Director of Legislative Affairs
Scott Jaillette serves as the director of Legislative Affairs for the South Carolina Department of Public Health. In this role, Jaillette represents the agency and its more than 2,950 staff on matters before the General Assembly.
Karla Buru, Deputy Director of Health Strategy and External Affairs & Chief of Staff
Karla Buru, DrPH, MPH, MSW, serves as Deputy Director of Health Strategy and External Affairs & Chief of Staff for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this role she assists the agency's director in the development and implementation of special projects, strategies, budgeting and agency initiatives on a day-to-day basis.
Gwendolyn Thompson, Deputy Director of Healthcare Quality
Gwendolyn (Gwen) Thompson serves as deputy director of Healthcare Quality for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). Healthcare Quality's primary purpose is to work together with health care facilities and services to protect the public's health by assuring that safe, quality care is provided.
Dr. Edward Simmer, Interim Agency Director
Dr. Edward Simmer is the interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, a position he has held since the agency was created on July 1, 2024. Before that he was the director of the former South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control from 2021 to 2024.
Dr. Brannon Traxler, Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Services & Chief Medical Officer
Brannon Traxler, MD, MPH, currently serves as deputy director of Health Promotion and Services & Chief Medical Officer for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this capacity, she provides strategic direction for Health Promotion and Services, leading its approximately 2,000 employees.
Darbi MacPhail, Deputy Director of Finance and Operations
Darbi MacPhail serves as Deputy Director of Finance and Operations for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this role, she oversees Budgets, Business Management, Controller, Program Support and Clinic Support.