Episode #466 Measles, Coalitions, And The Southeast, With Scott Thorpe
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
When Public Health Becomes Personal
South Carolina recently experienced the largest measles outbreak in modern American history, and for Dr. Huntley, who lives and works in the state, this wasn't a distant headline. It was a story unfolding in her own backyard.
In this episode, Dr. Huntley sits down with Scott Thorpe, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership, to unpack what actually happened in Spartanburg and what helped bring the outbreak under control. They also talk about why the real work is only beginning now that the crisis has passed.
Inside The Outbreak
Scott walks through how a local coordination effort his organization had already started in Spartanburg, due to the area's persistently low vaccination rates, became central to the community's response once the outbreak began. He explains the unique dynamics at play in Spartanburg's Slavic community and the role that luck and compliance with isolation protocols played in containing the spread. He also shares why he believes similar outbreaks will keep surfacing across the South unless vaccination rates improve.
Coalitions, Coordination, And Confrontation
The conversation moves into the legislative side of the story, including a contentious session in South Carolina where multiple bills aimed to roll back school vaccine requirements. Scott shares how his organization works to educate lawmakers and why a coalition model allows for both close collaboration and necessary friction with state agencies. He also explains how diversifying funding sources gives organizations like his the flexibility to respond when it matters most.
Advocacy Starts At Home
Scott closes with a powerful reminder for public health professionals navigating uncertain times: your voice carries the most weight in your own community, not because of your title, but because you're a constituent. Whether you're a student, a seasoned leader, or anywhere in between, this conversation offers a grounded reminder that meaningful change often starts close to home.
About Our Guest
Scott Thorpe
Scott Thorpe is the Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership, working across Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to protect and improve public health and to cultivate new leaders and voices in the field. He began his career in politics, running campaigns across the country, before earning his graduate degree at Johns Hopkins University, where an internship at the Baltimore City Health Department sparked his lifelong commitment to public health. Scott went on to work at the Baltimore City Health Department and several other public health organizations before relocating to Columbia, South Carolina. He previously served as a longtime Clinic Operations Director and Health Director in the Midlands Region at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and as the Public Health Infrastructure Director at the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH).
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Local coordination groups can make the difference during a crisis.
The Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership had already established a coordination group in Spartanburg before the measles outbreak began, which positioned the organization to respond quickly when the crisis hit.
Containment often involves a mix of factors, including luck.
Scott credits a combination of community compliance with isolation and quarantine guidance, along with some good fortune, for helping bring the outbreak under control.
Vaccination access is about more than hesitancy.
For many families, especially those relying on public transportation, simply reaching a primary care provider presents a significant logistical barrier, separate from any reluctance to vaccinate.
Staying engaged after the crisis ends builds lasting trust.
Scott emphasizes that walking away once an outbreak is contained undermines the relationship building that communities need most, particularly in places where trust in public health is already fragile.
Coalitions create flexibility and a diversity of voices.
By building both state level and local coalitions, the Southern Alliance can shift between close collaboration with agencies and a more confrontational advocacy role, depending on what a given issue requires.
Diversified funding supports nimble, responsive work.
Prioritizing individual donations alongside grants allows the organization to respond to emerging needs without being tied to rigid grant cycles.
Your credibility as a constituent is a powerful advocacy tool.
Legislators and school board members respond differently to constituents than to outside experts, which means public health professionals often have more influence in their own communities than they realize.
"I think one of the big problems oftentimes in public health, is that folks walk away when the crisis is over." - Scott Thorpe
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Public Health Consulting
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
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