DSC Board of Directors

The Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina Board of Directors:

  • Annually assesses the effects of diabetes mellitus in South Carolina, and the status of education, clinical research and translation of new diabetes treatment methods in South Carolina
  • Oversees all operations of the Diabetes Center of Excellence Advisory Committees, Outreach Council and Surveillance Council
  • Makes annual budget requests to the General Assembly to support the activities of the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina Board

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Diabetes Initiative of SC Board of Directors:

Usah Lilavivat, MD (Chair)
Carolina Diabetes & Kidney Center, Sumter, SC

Timothy J. Lyons, MD (Vice Chair)
Medical Executive Director, BCBSSC Diabetes Free SC; John A. Colwell Endowed Chair, MUSC

Pamela Arnold, MSN APRN, BC-ADM, CDE (Chair, Diabetes Center of Excellence Council)
Nurse Administrator, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, MUSC

Michelle Nichols, PhD (Outreach Chair)
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, MUSC

Kelly Hunt, PhD (Surveillance Council Chair)
Associate Professor, Division Leader for Epidemiology,
Department of Public Health Sciences, MUSC

Jennifer Almeda, PhD
SC Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; MUSC Public Health

Yaw Boateng, MS, MPH, RD, LD, CDCES
Community Member, Fresenius Medical Center

Marc-André Cornier, MD
Director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases, MUSC

Virginie Daguise, PhD
Director, SC DHEC Bureau of Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention

Hermes Florez, MD, PhD, MPH
MUSC President’s Office
Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences;
Director, Institute of Healthy aging;
Associate Dean for population Health

Less Hall, MD
Dean, USC School of Medicine

Madison Hall
South Carolina Governor's Office

Carolyn Jenkins, DrPH, APRN, RD, CDE
College of Nursing, Professor Emeritus, MUSC

Robert Kerr
Director of SC DHHS

Katherine Lewis, MD
Pediatric/Adult Endocrinology, Greenville Hospital System

Gayenell Magwood, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
American Heart Association; College of Nursing, Professor, MUSC

Patrick O’Neil, PhD
MUSC President’s Office, Professor Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science

William E. O’Quinn, MD
President, SC Academy of Family Physicians

Karen Reeves, BSN, MHHA, FACHE
South Carolina Hospital Association

Steve Saunders, M.B.B.S, F.A.C.P
SC Chapter American College of Physicians (ACP)

Makala Smith, MS, RD, LD, CDCES
Carolina Diabetes & Kidney Center

Deidre Tyson, MD
South Carolina Medical Association; McLeod Health Pediatric Endocrinology

Advisory Members:

Elaine M. Apperson, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology Prisma Health-Upstate

Leonard Lichtenstein, MD
MUSC President’s Office

Stephen P. Williams
Special Counsel, Greenville

Honorary Members:

David J. Cole, MD
President, MUSC

John Colwell, MD, PhD, CDE
Past, DSC Board Chair; Professor Emeritus, MUSC

Stephen H. Smith
ADA Representative – Southeastern Division

Lisa Saladin, PT, PhD
Executive Vice President Academic Affairs & Provost, MUSC