Charles Cooper is the valiant Vice President of the Office of Information Technology at Meharry Medical College (MMC). He draws inspiration from the former NFL Coach Bill Parcells’s words: “You don’t get any medal for trying something, you get medals for results.” This philosophy is reflected in all aspects of his decision-making and leadership. Under his guidance, MMC’s technological infrastructure has undergone a major transformation, leading to improved IT security and mitigated threats from cyberattacks. His IT competence has significantly enhanced MMC’s operational integrity and efficiency.
In a career spanning more than two decades in the technology space, Charles has many achievements to his credit. Although, he considers his nomination as a finalist for the Georgia CIO of the Year in 2022 as his best recognition to date. In his opinion, success is a subjective and complex idea, and not everyone has the same definition for it. According to him, true success is unique to each person and can’t be reduced to a single statistic. “For some, it means wealth, power, or status,” he says. “To me, success is about balancing personal growth, career achievements, and moral principles to realize tangible results.” Charles aspires to become an organization’s President or CEO.
Professional Journey before Meharry Medical College
Charles began his professional journey at the young age of 18. Upon graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force, where he served for 9.5 years. His stint in the Air Force days laid the foundation for developing his leadership, service, and collaboration skills.
After his service in the military, he worked for several organizations in different leadership capacities, including Baker Hughes, Computer Science Corporation, Lone Star College, Pegasus, Ohio University, and Clark Atlanta University. Charles moved from Clark Atlanta University to Meharry Medical College in January of 2023.
Throughout his professional journey, Charles has encountered several challenges. However, he has never allowed them to dampen his high spirits or intrinsic desire to accomplish great things. He believes that when one overcomes obstacles, it spurs development and learning. “From my perspective, navigating challenges has often built my resilience, problem-solving skills, and self-awareness,” he says. “I’ve faced notable career setbacks, which have imparted priceless knowledge.”
“One key example was a significant early project issue that proved to be transformative in the end,” he adds. When working on this project, Charles faced unexpected technical difficulties that threatened to halt the entire endeavor – despite his preparation. He, however, didn’t give up or shift the blame. Instead, he stepped back, analyzed the issue from multiple angles, and sought advice from experienced colleagues. Charles recalls that this led to innovative solutions to restart the project. It also gave him a stronger grasp of risk assessment, contingency planning, and cross-functional collaboration. This experience taught him that overcoming such obstacles often leads to developing a strong mindset and valuable skills.
According to Charles, times of uncertainty and adversity can foster significant personal growth. “The value of perseverance and persistence is something else I’ve learned,” he says. “I’ve faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, but by maintaining an optimistic, problem-solving mindset and pushing through, I’ve often been able to turn those difficulties into opportunities.” He also points out that it is not always easy, as there has to be a balance between persevering and knowing – when to reconsider or change course.
“Overall, the obstacles I’ve encountered have been tremendously beneficial for my growth and self-awareness,” Charles says.
About Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College is a private historically black medical school affiliated with the United Methodist Church, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Its mission includes empathy for the disadvantaged, education in the health sciences, and maintenance of a center of excellence for the practice and delivery of health care.
Beyond just clinical excellence, the college’s mission to “save lives and serve humanity” infuses every aspect of the student experience, according to Charles.
Meharry’s cutting-edge tools and research-backed methods allow students to hone their skills to succeed in future careers. MMC is renowned for producing alumni deeply committed to social justice and service. Charles says that these professionals are dedicated to addressing systemic injustices that contribute to health disparities. “In general, MMC combines community involvement, academic rigor, and an unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes for all,” he adds.
The College’s graduates are known for possessing the expertise, abilities, and passion to significantly enhance the quality of life for all their patients and communities.
Strengthening Technological Infrastructure
When Charles arrived at MMC, he brought his innovative mindset, strategic thinking skills, and a wealth of experience in IT with him. He tapped into his in-depth expertise to enhance MMC’s technological infrastructure. A strong team supported him to accomplish this mammoth task.
“Through thorough evaluations of the college’s current IT setup, I have pinpointed areas in need of development and offered suggestions for digital transformation, modernizing hardware, software, and network architecture,” Charles explains. As a result, the college now has a more reliable and effective IT infrastructure that facilitates smooth operations and increased production.
Moreover, MMC’s defenses against cyberattacks have been strengthened because of Charles’s IT security experience. He, along with his CISO, Drew Jenkins, has contributed to the protection of private and sensitive medical data from potential breaches and unauthorized access by carrying out in-depth risk assessments and putting in place the necessary security measures. Charles points out that this has guaranteed compliance with legal standards like HIPAA, while also protecting the college’s reputation.
“In the end, MMC’s expansion and success have been greatly aided by my information technology competence,” he adds. “Through the implementation of creative solutions, improved IT security, improved technological infrastructure, and efficient project management, I have contributed to the college’s use of technology to further its goals of research, education, and healthcare provision.”
Responsibilities and Workday
In his role as Vice President of the Office of Information Technology, Charles is responsible for providing strategic leadership in IT by coordinating the organization’s IT strategy with its overarching business goals and objectives. He also oversees technology governance and risk management. Charles explains that he puts rules, guidelines, and procedures in place to guarantee the safety, dependability, and compliance of the company’s IT systems.
At MMC, his responsibilities extend to IT Staff, budgets, vendor relationships, and day-to-day operations management. This involves supervising the daily activities of the IT department as a whole. Charles is spearheading the College’s digital transformation initiatives as well. He is leveraging technology to boost output, optimize workflow, and improve customer satisfaction. Talent management and organizational development are other key responsibilities of his. He guides and mentors the IT staff, in addition to encouraging ongoing education and professional growth.
Charles is currently in the mid-point of a Workday SIS implementation. So, he attends several meetings throughout the day. He says that his primary focus has been on the Workday implementation – this touches each department on campus. And he has weekly one-ones with his leadership staff to address any pertinent issues. Additionally, Charles also takes time out from his schedule to respond to any issue that has escalated to his office. “By responding swiftly, I’m able to diffuse frustration amongst our customer base,” he says.
Despite his demanding work schedule, Charles is able to maintain a work-life balance. It is by being aware of his priorities. He ranks them in this order: God, family, and work. “I also have a daily wellness regimen that allows me to concentrate and identify the areas of my life that are starting to feel out of balance,” Charles says.
Ensuring a Culture of Integrity
As Chief Information Officer, Charles ensures an integrity-driven culture within his IT team. It is at the top of his priority list at work. There are multiple ways by which he encourages and supports an integrity-based culture. One of them is: leading by example and embodying the highest ethical principles. He does his best to demonstrate exemplary moral conduct for others to follow by acting morally and making judgments based on honesty.
Charles also does his best to provide his IT staff with a clear set of ethical standards and behavioral norms. “These principles outline the expectations for integrity, transparency, and responsible use of technology resources under my leadership,” he explains. Another way he supports an integrity-based culture is through open communication. At MMC, he is known for promoting candid and open communication among his team members, empowering them to voice ethical concerns or report any wrongdoing they observe. Charles firmly believes that one-on-one discussions and regular team meetings create opportunities to address moral dilemmas and cultivate a culture of accountability.
Additionally, he is always ready to cooperate with compliance and legal departments. He works closely with these departments to ensure IT processes align with ethical standards and regulatory requirements. Charles says that by working collaboratively, they aim to mitigate risks and proactively address any potential compliance issues.
“I foster an integrity-based culture among my IT staff by putting these strategies into practice,” he adds. “This encourages moral conduct and positively contributes to the College’s development. It also helps to maintain stakeholder confidence.”
Vision and Plans for the Future
Charles envisions MMC accepting more students who want to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged people from all across the United States and the world. Another vision of his is to see the occupation of at least 1,200 residential units on the “village campus.” He also wants to see the College serving as the national model for delivering interprofessional training to working professionals and prospective students.
In the near future, Charles expects the College to lead the fields of data-driven, equity-focused research and clinical medicine, such as cancer, performance and effectiveness in education, infectious diseases, mental and behavioral disorders and drug misuse, cardiovascular illness and obesity, dental health, and precision medicine/health. He also believes that they will lead the way in developing and putting into practice a fresh approach to providing patient-centered, value-based healthcare in Tennessee, rural Mississippi Delta areas, and American cities all around.
Charles points out that they plan to establish a network of regional, national, and worldwide patterns in order to increase clinical reach and provide residents and students with more educational opportunities. The College also intends to provide value-based, patient-centered healthcare through a comprehensive multispecialty group practice made up of highly skilled primary care and specialty physicians, dentists, oral surgeons, advance practice nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, optometrists, nutritionists, behaviorists, and community health workers.
“In the end, we want to work together to create and execute targeted, synergistic community networks that enhance MMC’s clinical, educational, and research objectives that leverage opportunities to engage the community in service,” Charles says.
Influencing the Next Generation
Charles recognizes the importance of educating and exposing the next generation to cutting-edge technologies in order to make an influential impact on them. He points out that today’s students will come across AI, robotics, biotechnology, and other transformational discoveries as essential components of their learning and career trajectories due to the rapid rate of technological growth. “So, giving young people access to these technologies, whether via STEM education, internships, or practical learning opportunities, can encourage them to become the next generation of leaders and innovators,” he adds. “Using AI in pedagogy has the potential to improve learning for students of various backgrounds.” He believes this may create new opportunities for historically underrepresented populations to enter the technology industry.
As an African American leader, Charles feels it is important to be a representative for those who are to follow. “I am proud to say I lead a family who is blazing a path through the tech industry,” he shares. His daughter, Kennedy Cooper, who received her Bachelor’s from Clark Atlanta University, was inspired to continue her education in Cyber Security. This August, she will graduate from Texas A&M with her Master’s in Cybersecurity Law and Policy. And Charles’s nephew, Aiden Key, is pursuing his undergraduate education in Computer Science at The University of Houston.
“I hope to continue directly impacting future technology leaders through my involvement in the IT community, board positions, and volunteer work,” Charles says.
Message to Aspiring Professionals
Charles advises aspiring professionals to find a trusted advisor or mentor who will hold them accountable and pour into their lives. He also encourages them to dream big and never settle.
“Be relentless in pursuing your goals,” Charles tells aspiring leaders. “Focus on what you can control, embrace your failures, and learn from them.”
