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.
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.
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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.
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Jeff Powell
President
As president of ILH, Jeff Powell leads the efforts to expand the company’s strategic partnerships and solutions with a focus on advancing patient wellbeing and physician autonomy.
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Powell has devoted his career to bringing innovative healthcare technology to patients and physicians. He spent almost 20 years with St. Jude Medical, including seven years as Senior Vice President/General Manager. He also has served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Haemonetics Inc., President Sales and Operations for Sensible Medical Innovations, LTD., as well as Relay Medical, LLC. He was also the Vice President of Sales & Operations for VitalConnect and General Manager Americas for BioSerenity.
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A graduate of Furman University, Powell is a strong community steward.
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.
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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).
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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.
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.
