Erik L. Carlton , DrPH, MS

Innovative and accomplished academic leader specializing in graduate education, community engagement, and global leadership development.

Interim Dean

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Department:

Academic & Student Affairs

Classification:

Admin

Associate Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Department:

Health Policy, Management, and Leadership

Classification:

Faculty

• DrPH, University of Kentucky
• MS, University of Kentucky
• BA, California State University - East Bay

• Isehunwa, O., Dobalian, A., Ahn, S., Relyea, G., & Carlton, E. (2021). Local Health Department and Hospital Collaboration around Community Health Needs Assessment to Improve Health Outcomes. Family & Community Health, 44(3), 136-145.
• Kim, H., Mahmood, A., Carlton, E.L., Goldsmith, J., Chang, C., & Bhuyan, S. (2020). Access to personal health records and screening for breast and cervical cancer among women with a family history of cancer. Journal of Cancer Education, 35, 1128-1134.
• Carlton, E.L. & Singh, S.M. (2018). Joint Community Health Needs Assessments Pave the Path for Local Health Departments’ Involvement in Non-Profit Hospitals’ Implementation Planning Activities. American Journal of Public Health, 108(5), 683-688.
• Holsinger, J.W. & Carlton, E.L. (2018). Leadership for Public Health: Theory and Practice. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
• Isehunwa, O., Chang, C., Jiang, J., Wang, Y., Kedia, S., Carlton, E., & Bhuyan, S. (2017). Access to employee wellness program and use of preventative care services among working adults in the United States. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(6), 854-865.
• Jackson, B., Guttierez, M.L., Relyea, G., Carlton, E.L., Ahn, S., Nault, J., Binkley, B., & Bailey, J. (2017). Unmet primary care needs in diabetes patients with multimorbidity in a medically underserved area. Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology, 4(1), 1-9.
• Barnes, P., Erwin, P.C., Moonesignhe, R., Brooks, A., Carlton, E.L., & Behringer, B. (2017). Functional characteristics of health coalitions in local public health systems:  A case study exploring the function of county health councils in Tennessee. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 23(4), 404-409.
• Hooker, E.A., Caron, R.M., Hewitt, A.M., Carmalt, J.H., Landry, A.Y., & Carlton, E.L. (2017). Defining population health: Leveraging advisory board members’ perspective to identify health administration curriculum content. Journal of Health Administration Education, 34(1), 5-20. [Impact factor: 0.15]
• Singh, S. & Carlton, E.L. (2017). Exploring the link between completion of accreditation prerequisites and local health departments’ decision to collaborate with tax-exempt hospitals around the community health assessment. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 23(2), 138-147. [Impact factor: 1.510]
• Singh, S. & Carlton, E.L. (2016). Local health departments’ involvement in hospitals’ implementation plans. Frontiers in Public Health Systems and Services Research, 5(4), 34-39.
• Carlton, E.L., Holsinger, J.W., & Anunobi, N. (2016). Physician engagement with health information technology: Implications for practice and professionalism. International Journal of Computers in Clinical Practice, 1(2), 51-73.
• Bhuyan, S.S., Wang, Y., Bhatt, J., Dismuke, S.E., Carlton, E.L., Gentry, D., LaGrange, C., & Chang, C. (2016). Paid sick leave is associated with fewer emergency department visits among U.S. private sector working adults. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 34(5), 784-789. 
• Holsinger, J.W., Carlton, E.L., & Jadhav, E. (Eds.) (2015). Leading people, managing organizations: Contemporary public health leadership. Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers in Public Health.
• Holsinger, J., Carlton, E.L., & Jadhav, E. (2015). Editorial – Leading people, managing organizations: Contemporary public health leadership. Frontiers in Public Health, 3:268, 1-3.
• Carlton, E.L., Powell, M.P., Dismuke, S.E., & Levy, M. (2015). Our future's brightest: Developing interdisciplinary competencies through an interprofessional graduate student case competition. Journal of Health Administration Education, 32(1), 47-57.
• Bhuyan, S.S., Chandak, A.N., Smith, P., Carlton, E.L., Duncan, K.A., & Gentry, D. (2015). Integration of public health and primary care: A systematic review of the current literature in primary care physician mediated childhood obesity interventions. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, online first, 1-14.
• Carlton, E.L., Holsinger, J., Riddell, M., & Bush, H. (2015). Full-range public health leadership, Part 1: Quantitative analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 3:73, 1-8.
• Carlton, E.L., Holsinger, J., Riddell, M., & Bush, H. (2015). Full-range public health leadership, Part 2: Qualitative analysis and synthesis. Frontiers in Public Health, 3:174, 1-9.
• Carlton, E.L. & Singh, S. (2015). Accreditation intent, community health assessments, and local health department-hospital partnerships. Frontiers in Public Health Systems and Services Research, 4(1), 1-6.
• Carlton, E.L., & Erwin, P.C. (2015). Answering the Call to Integrate: Simple Strategies from Public Health and Healthcare Executives in One Urban County. Frontiers in Public Health Systems and Services Research, 4(1), 7-13.
• Carlton, E.L. (2014). Answering the call for integrating population health: Insights from health system executives. Advances in Health Care Management, 16, 115-138.
• Carlton, E., & Simmons, L. (2011). Health decision-making among rural women: Physician access and prescription adherence. Rural and Remote Health, 11, 1599-1615.
• Carlton, E., Whiting, J., Bradford, K., Dyk, P, & Vail, A. (2009). Defining factors of successful university-community collaborations: An exploration of one healthy marriage project. Family Relations, 58(1), 28-40.

• CAHME-Ascension Award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Development
• CAHME-Aramark Innovation Grant
• University of Memphis David C. Burchfield Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award
• Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society, Beta Gamma Chapter
• Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
• Univ. of Kentucky School of Human Environmental Sciences – Centennial Future 100

• Administrative Skills: Academic program development and enhancement, shared governance to maximize faculty engagement in strategic planning efforts, community partnership and relationship development, fundraising and development efforts to support programmatic activities and scholarships.
• Research Specialization/Interests: Global health leadership development, public health and healthcare leadership development, integrated healthcare and public health, rural health/health disparities, and qualitative and mixed-methods health services research.
• Teaching Specialization/Interests: Leadership, population health management, global comparative health systems, online and hybrid graduate and professional education, executive education, team-based learning, and competency-based education.
• Professional Associations & Leadership Positions:
  • American College of Healthcare Executives
  • Association of University Programs in Health Administration
    • AUPHA/Health Administration Press Editorial Board for Graduate Studies
    • Annual Meeting Planning Committee
  • National Public Health Leadership Development Network

Erik L. Carlton, DrPH, MS, FACHE, is Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Director of Graduate Studies, and Associate Professor of Health Policy, Management and Leadership at the West Virginia University School of Public Health. He is also Director of the West Virginia Public Health Training Center. A board-certified healthcare administrator, Dr. Carlton has nearly two decades of leadership experience in both the private and public sectors; and has consulted numerous hospital systems, health departments, and other healthcare organizations, as well as several universities and other large businesses. A member of the Healthy Work Design External Advisory Council at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, his current research focuses on psychological safety with an emphasis in both healthcare and higher education. His previous scholarship focused heavily on the integration of healthcare and public health systems and on university-community relations. The author of three books, Dr. Carlton has a strong presence in global healthcare leadership development, having lived in both France and China and having trained clinical and administrative leaders from nearly 60 countries. The bulk of Erik’s career has focused on issues of rural and Appalachian health and he has led behavioral health intervention and public health workforce training efforts in three Appalachian states (Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia). Dr. Carlton 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 and Family Therapy, both from the University of Kentucky.