Gov. Henry McMaster announced his appointment of Eunice Medina as the next director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).

Medina, who serves as the chief of staff and deputy director of programs for SCDHHS, will succeed former Director Robert Kerr, who retired on Nov. 1, 2024.

"The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been a model of excellence under the direction of Robert Kerr, and there is nobody better positioned to build upon the agency's success than Eunice Medina," McMaster said.

He added, "With her expertise in Medicaid and proven leadership at the executive level of the agency, she will help lead a seamless transition. I am grateful for her willingness to serve in this critical role."

Medina has served on the SCDHHS executive management team as the chief of staff and deputy director of programs since June 2021 and brings more than 20 years of experience in Medicaid policy and operations.

Before joining SCDHHS, she served as a bureau chief with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, where she managed a team of over 60, overseeing Florida’s 18 Medicaid-managed care plans, and worked with the state’s home and community-based services waiver programs. 

"For the last 20 years, I have dedicated my career to Medicaid, and for three and a half of those years, I have had the pleasure to serve alongside Director Kerr, working closely with him to set a new strategic direction for the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services," Medina said.

She added, "I look forward to moving the agency forward and thank Governor McMaster for the faith he has shown in me. I look forward to earning this position through the confirmation process." 

Medina, 43, lives in Columbia, and is a 2004 graduate of Florida State University.

McMaster worked with state health care leaders and members of the General Assembly to advise and assist him throughout the selection process.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the South Carolina Senate.

"The agency has developed a culture of commitment and purpose while cultivating a leadership team that I believe is unparalleled in South Carolina," Kerr said.

Kerr added, "There is no one more prepared than Eunice Medina to lead that team. Her extraordinary knowledge, her dedication to service, and her values will serve South Carolina well."