School of Public Health announces new Associate Dean for Professional Programs
West Virginia University School of Public Health is pleased to announce that Erik Carlton, DrPH, MS, will join the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership faculty and the Dean’s Academic Affairs leadership team as part of the School’s continued focus on leadership and innovation in education.
Dr. Carlton will join the School as an associate professor and associate dean of professional programs this fall. In addition to providing graduate-level teaching and service to the state, he will explore the development of additional course offerings in the areas of health administration and healthcare management.
“The planning for more formal programming in the area of health administration meets the demands of the 21st century public health workforce and is based upon consumer interest, our presence as one of the five academic schools on WVU’s Health Sciences campus, and strong collaborations with willing partners across campus,” said Linda Alexander, senior associate dean for academic, student and faculty affairs.
School of Public Health Dean Jeffrey Coben says Carlton brings an extraordinary skill set to the WVU campus.
“Dr. Carlton will be an excellent addition to our faculty and leadership team,” Coben said. “His background and research experience in healthcare administration, clinical care, and rural and Appalachian health complements our very talented faculty at the School. He has also been a leader and innovator in healthcare education. We look forward to Dr. Carlton continuing to move the School forward as the primary Public Health education entity in the state.”
Prior to joining WVU, Dr. Carlton spent six years on the faculty at The University of Memphis School of Public Health, where he directed the school’s nationally ranked Master of Health Administration program, guiding it to two national awards for innovations in healthcare management education and leadership development. His research focuses on healthcare and public health leadership and the integration of healthcare and public health systems. Having lived internationally in both France and China, Dr. Carlton has a strong presence in global healthcare leadership development. He has trained clinical and administrative leaders from 28 countries. He has published and presented his scholarly work nationally and internationally, and is the author of three books about public health and healthcare leadership. He teaches in the areas of healthcare leadership, population health management, healthcare quality and outcomes, and health systems organization; and has additional expertise in behavioral health, women’s health, and rural and Appalachian health.
Dr. Carlton has nearly two decades of managerial and leadership experience in both private and public sector organizations. He is the founder and principal of Elevation Consulting Group, a healthcare consulting firm focused on leadership development, team building, and delivery innovation strategies; and has served a consultant to numerous local health departments, hospital systems, and other healthcare organizations. A behavioral health clinician licensed to practice in marriage and family therapy, Carlton previously operated a private therapy practice and continues to consult with healthcare and public health organizations related to behavioral health integration and strategies. He holds a Doctor of Public Health degree in Health Services Management and a Master of Science degree in Family Studies with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy, both from the University of Kentucky.