July 9, 2025 — If you’ve attended a celebration, ceremony or even a class at the University of Florida College of Medicine over the past four decades, chances are W. Charles Poulton was behind the scenes — or behind the lens, capturing the moment or ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Poulton has been a quiet constant at the College of Medicine since joining the staff in the 1980s. His official title is audiovisual specialist, but over the years, he has become a go-to expert across the college — supporting classrooms, capturing milestones with his camera and building relationships that have spanned generations.

“In some ways, I ought to be more an audiovisual generalist,” Poulton said with a laugh. “It’s one of those things where I developed over a lot of time, doing lots of different things. And then since I’ve done them, I keep doing them.”

Born in Illinois and raised in St. Pete, Poulton first arrived in Gainesville as an undergraduate student. He was drawn to UF’s broadcasting program, with a natural interest in health and science.

“In high school, I’d taken the advanced physiology and anatomy course, and that was really interesting to me,” he said. “I made a minor out of health education doing medical terminology, taking physiology because I kind of thought that was what I might do.”

As a student, he worked on a television program called “Picture of Health” in what’s now the repurposed Communicore Building. The UF Health TV program provided health education to empower individuals to live healthy lifestyles. Later he joined WCJB-TV20, working in production, and eventually became the director of shipping, returning to UF full-time in 1985.

He’s been with the College of Medicine ever since and was recently recognized for his 40 years of service to the college during the 2025 Employee Service Awards celebration. He was also a 2024 recipient of a division-level UF Superior Accomplishment Award, which annually recognizes faculty and staff who have contributed outstanding service, demonstrated efficiency or economy in their work or created an impact on quality of life for students and employees. Each winner was nominated by supervisors, peers or customers, with outstanding letters of support submitted on their behalf.

Over the years, Poulton has done it all — supporting classroom technology, creating educational videos, photographing orientations and award ceremonies and taking thousands of headshots for new residents.

“I enjoy photography and working with students and being part of their journey,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed doing those headshots and portraits because they use those later in their applications and for various other things.”

But it’s not just the students who have come to know and rely on him — it’s also the faculty.

Beverly Dede, Ph.D., M.A., saw Poulton’s value firsthand and nominated him for the Superior Accomplishment Award, describing him as someone the college can’t do without.

“Beyond Charles’  work ethic and excellence, he is among the most kind and humble individuals in the college,” Dede said. “He is a positive, cheerful, can-do person who will help anyone at any time without a hint of it being an imposition whatsoever. I have never seen Charles frustrated, upset or say anything unkind about anyone.”

His longevity at the College of Medicine has created deeply rooted connections that transcend job titles.

“I get to see the students progressing, and the faculty, “ he said. “Young faculty come in and become clinical learning group leaders — and I remember meeting them as medical students.”

Beyond work, Poulton is an active participant in Gainesville’s local music scene, attending live shows and music festivals, and blends his personal and professional love of photography. Some of his favorite bands include local acts like The Savants of Soul and the Sooza Brass Band.

“That is some of the best dance music,” he said, noting that he even sees musicians he knows from UF — including a student who is now in his third year of the MD-PhD Training Program.

Poulton hopes that at the end of his career, people remember him for his presence.

“I think the thing I do well is try to keep people comfortable in situations where they’re trying to do something out of their comfort zone,” he said.

Poulton has witnessed history — and lived it — through the lens of the College of Medicine.

“There are students and faculty I’ve known for decades,” he said. “People who remember me from their first day here and still call when they need something. That continuity, that sense of being part of someone’s journey, is what I value most.”