Herald fulfilled dream to be a doctor

HUNTINGTON -- Dr. Carlton W. Herald is doing what he always wanted, even if it means working some long days and juggling the things he loves.

Herald said he first became interested in medicine while at Crum High School.

While he went on to work as a lab technician at Charleston Area Medical Center for a couple of years, he soon decided to go back to medical school. He graduated from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg in 1998 and worked in various hospitals in Ohio for a few years before returning to the state to be near family.

Today, the internal medicine physician sees patients at Valley Health clinics in Stepptown and Fort Gay, and at Logan Regional Medical Center, where he is chief of the Department of Medicine. Some nights, he doesn't make it home to his wife and sons until 11 p.m. or midnight, while other nights he may be done hours earlier.

Dr. Buddy Hurt of the Valley Health clinic in Wayne County first met Herald in medical school and called him "probably the most humble, intelligent man I've met in my life."

"You can ask him about anything, and in a very humble way he can tell you about it," Hurt said.

The patients Herald sees are often very sick, having a combination of diabetes, coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. He said what they have to say is important.

"You should always take time and listen to what they have to say. Ninety-nine percent of your diagnoses are going to come from what the patient says," Herald said.

Hurt said many physicians may want to "toot their own horn" when it comes to their accomplishments, but Herald just isn't that way.

"He's a very humble man," Hurt said.

He recalled Herald from their days at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. He said Herald built computers, taught himself golf and built his own clubs. He said he's always had a knack for landscaping and gardening, too.

Herald said managing a job, a family and a wide host of hobbies requires some serious time management. The key to success is perspective, he said.

"You do have to balance it. There's going to be days that you're going to be getting home late," he said.

Still, he said most days he makes it home by 6 or 7 p.m., giving him much more time to spend with his 8- and 6-year-old sons and his wife.

When he has spare time, Herald said he also loves boating on the Kanawha River, bowling and playing golf. He also has a passion for The History Channel and Ohio State football.