Dr. Erik Carlton reflects on purpose
Seeing [my students] successes and the impact I can have through others' careers is far more rewarding than any personal accomplishment.
To celebrate West Virginia University's inaugural Week of Purpose, we invited members of the School of Public Health to share their thoughts about purpose. Senior Associate Dean Erik Carlton (DrPH) has offered his reflections on purpose and how it intersects with his role in the School of Public Health.
Introduce yourself.
From the ice cream taste-testing room to the therapy room and now the classroom, I have nearly two decades of leadership experience in both the private and public sectors; and have consulted numerous hospital systems, health departments and other healthcare organizations and businesses. I have authored three leadership books. Having lived overseas in both France and China, I have a strong presence in global healthcare leadership development and trained clinical and administrative leaders from 60 countries. I have been married for 20 years to my incredible wife, Tammy, and we have five extraordinary children.
How do you define purpose?
In my leadership classes, I challenge my students to determine their “Why” – that is, what is at the core of who they are and what they do. Our purpose is our why. MY purpose is MY why.
How do you define your purpose?
Many years ago, while living overseas, I found a scripture in the Old Testament that has served as my compass and purpose ever since. It reads, “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not…” (Isaiah 35:3). Whether at home, at work, or in the community, MY purpose is just this – to lift the hands that hang down and to strengthen the feeble knees.
How does public health play a role in your sense of purpose?
Public Health is a service profession. It is a field entirely dedicated to making the world around us a healthier and better place, to protecting and helping others. It is a career in caring and impact. Years ago, I experienced a very significant depression. It was the third prolonged depression I’d experienced in my life, but this one had a profound impact on me. It left me with a deep and abiding focus on waging war against mental illness. I spent years training to be and practicing as a therapist and running behavioral health organizations and a therapy practice. I grew frustrated with only having individual impact. Important as that was-- having quite literally talked people off bridges-- I knew I wanted a bigger impact. My boss at the time was the one who recommended I look into further training in public health and healthcare administration. It gave me the lens and the tools I’d been looking for and I’ve not looked back since
Who inspires you the most to fulfill your purpose?
Ultimately, it is my family and my students that most inspire me to fulfill my purpose. I work to provide a better life for my family and to make the world a better place. Students are the heart and soul of my work. Outside my office, I have hung a very cherished credo that was written by a dear and departed friend, mentor, and colleague, John Wiggs. It is this:
“STUDENTS are the most important people entering our building. STUDENTS are not an interruption of our work, they are the purpose of it. We are not doing them a favor by seeing them. They are entitled to our service. STUDENTS are not cold statistics. They are flesh and blood human beings with feelings and emotions like our own. STUDENTS are people who brings us their needs and it is our job to handle them as expeditiously as possible. Take care of the student; that is why we are here. The next time you don’t have time – MAKE IT!”
Every time I speak to one of our students, every time I walk the halls of the HSC and the School of Public Health and see the faculty and staff who make it possible for us to deliver on our student-centered mission, I am rejuvenated and inspired to try a little harder and be a little better.