COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Friday, May 15, 2026, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Dr. Brannon Traxler as the acting director of the state Department of Public Health. The move comes after Dr. Edward Simmer was removed from the role. Dr. Traxler currently serves as deputy director of Health Promot ion and Services Chief Medical Officer for the DPH and has over 18 years of experience in medicine and public health. Categories: Local News, State Tags: SC Department of Public Health, South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) ...read more read less