When was Claude E. Welch Jr born?

Claude E. Welch Jr., State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (UB) Professor of Political Science and SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, was born on 12 June 1939 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Dr. Claude E. Welch, Sr., and Phyllis Paton Welch. The younger Welch “had the values of hard work and respect for others instilled him from an early age.” His father worked his way through Harvard Medical School and served as a front-line surgeon in World War II. In his medical career, he became “a fixture at Massachusetts General Hospital for more than 40 years, was an innovative surgeon, a tireless worker, prolific researcher and an advocate of building strong ties with his patients, themes that would come to be synonymous with his…son.”

Claude E. Welch Jr.

For more than 50 years, Welch taught political science at UB. He lives in Amherst, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. Welch's scope of interest extends globally. Along with his wife Jeannette Ludwig (September 29, 1949-July 29, 2018), who was a professor of French at the University at Buffalo, Welch traveled to more than 25 countries on five continents. They became avid photographers, and their collection of more than 2000 images, complete with detailed descriptions, is preserved in the digital collection of the University at Buffalo Libraries. Based on these images, the library maintains an exhibition titled "Wayfarers: Selected Images from the Welch-Ludwig Collection."

Welch had four children with his late wife Nancy, who died in 1979. His son is Chris Welch, and his three daughters are Sarah Welch, Martha Dyer, and the late Elisabeth Ann (Lisa) Welch, who died in an alpine accident in September 2017. Welch and his wife Jeannette Ludwig divide their time in New York State between their homes in Amherst and the Chautauqua Institute. The family also has a camp on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

Welch attended private schools from fifth grade on. He went to Belmont Hill School, Belmont, Massachusetts, where he received academic awards for Biology, French, Latin, and general scholarly excellence. In his senior year, Welch received the Headmaster's Award for Outstanding Student and graduated "summa cum laude".

Welch was admitted to Harvard College, the undergraduate liberal arts college of Harvard University, graduating "magna cum laude". Responding to the political upheaval in Africa where countries were fighting for independence, Welch focused his studies on Africa and human rights. His undergraduate honors thesis examined the impact of international law on South Africa’s administration of South-West Africa (now Namibia) from the end of World War I to 1961.

Continuing with postgraduate studies at Oxford University, Welch earned his PhD in 1964. In an interview with "UB Honors Today", UB’s honors alumnae magazine, he explained that he did his dissertation research in West Africa, wrote the final draft on location, and mailed it to his committee. His interest in African politics and human rights formed the basis for his career.

In 1964, Welch accepted a position in the political science department at the University at Buffalo, the largest and most comprehensive campus within the SUNY system. He rose rapidly in the academic ranks, serving as assistant professor from 1964–68, associate professor from 1968–72, full professor from 1972–89, and as SUNY Distinguished Service Professor until his retirement in 2017. He was selected one of nine faculty members from the SUNY system to serve on the University-wide Advisory Council on Distinguished Service Professorships, 2009–12. His international teaching included a semester at the Singapore Institute of Management and part of a summer course at the International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France.

Welch became a mentor and renowned professor and took an active role in graduate as well as undergraduate education. His warm and enthusiastic personality and his intellect created an environment in which students explored the issues of the day, and his involvement in university activities demonstrated his devotion and attention to his students and their regard for him. In 2016 Welch received the President’s Medal at the University at Buffalo, given “in recognition of signal and extraordinary service to UB.” The citation praised his “major contributions to the development of, or quality of life within, the University.”

Welch's teaching responsibilities included African politics, civil-military relations, human rights, international law, political change, and world civilizations since 1500. He directed independent study and thesis and dissertation guidance. Since 1969, he participated in about 60 dissertation committees, chairing more than 30 of them, and he served as an outside reader for other departments at UB as well as other universities, for example, in Canada and South Africa. In addition, Welch taught at the Global Perspectives Academy and presented special seminars for the University Honors Program: Africa through Novels and Films, International Human Rights, and Women's and Men's Language (with Jeannette Ludwig).

Welch took special pride in teaching. In 2015, he told "UB Honors Today" that his teaching philosophy is “Let each become what they are capable of being. I try to build up a sense that, yes, individuals have made a difference, and you can do so, too. One of the objectives I see in my teaching is empowerment of students through knowledge, but also through a sense that they can be inspired by learning about others.”

Welch's academic interests focus broadly on political transitions, particularly in developing countries, most notably in Africa. Welch published 14 books that demonstrate his expertise in African politics, civil-military relations, and human rights. "Protecting Human Rights in Africa: Strategies and Roles of Non-Governmental Organizations" (2001) and "Human Rights and Development in Africa" (1984) were selected by "" for its list of Outstanding Academic Title. "Choice" is published by the Association of College and Research Libraries, the higher education division of the American Library Association. "Protecting Human Rights in Africa" was also short listed by the African Studies Association for the Herskovits Prize. In 2008, "Economic Rights in Canada and the United States" (co-authored with Rhoda Howard-Hassmann) was named by the US Human Rights Network, as “one of three ‘notable contributions’ in the field of human rights scholarship by our membership.”

Welch served in numerous administrative positions while maintaining his teaching and research. His first major appointment came in 1967 when, at the age of 28, he became dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education at UB. He served in this position from 1967–70. As associate vice president for Academic Affairs in 1976–80, Welch worked as the number two person for non-health sciences-related matters. He also served a three-year term as chair of the Political Science Department, 1980–83. He was Acting Dean of the Colleges from 1978–79; co director of the annual Faculty Development Workshop, l984–91; and co director of the Program for Tenured Faculty, 1987–89.

The Faculty Senate elected Welch chair for 1985–87 and 1995–97. He also served UB by chairing Faculty Senate committees on Budget Priorities, Governance, Academic Planning, Public Service, Student Affairs, and Teaching Effectiveness. In addition, Welch chaired the Committee on Public Service, the Nominating Committee, the Committee on Student Affairs, and the Special Committee on Academic Integrity. At the Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy (SUNY Buffalo Law School), he was a member of Advisory Committee, the Gilbert Moore Fellowships Committee, and the Working Groups Committee. Welch chaired the Council on International Studies and World Affairs from 1998–2000, has been a member since 1966, and served on the Task Force on International Programs, 1981–83.
He chaired the President's Review Board on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure for three years and served three-year terms on two other occasions. From 2009 to 2011, Welch sat on UB's General Education Task Force and was appointed by the provost as a contributor to the new implementation and development of the restructuring of the university's general education requirements. In 2008, UB President John B. Simpson appointed Welch to the Campaign Advisory Group as one of three faculty members on a 15-person team to help improve fundraising efforts. He also served as the president of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (1971–93) and subsequently served on the Elections Committee.

Welch sat on several editorial committees and advised university presses. Since 1993 he has been on the editorial review board of "Human Rights Quarterly". From 1980–88, he was associate editor for "Armed Forces & Society", serving as editor from 1988–92 and on their board of editors from 1992 to the present. Welch was subject editor for “Armed Forces and Society” in the "International Military and Defense Encyclopedia".

Welch has served on the editorial board of advisors for several publications, including "Buffalo Human Rights Law Review" since 1997; advisory board, "World History Since 1500" (Dushkin Publishers), 1997–2005; editorial advisory board, "Encyclopedia Americana", 1992–03; and the board of editors, "African Studies Review", 1974–81.

He reviewed book manuscripts for Princeton University Press, Pearson/Prentice-Hall, Houghton Mifflin, SUNY Press, University of Pennsylvania Press, University of Rochester Press, University of Nebraska Press, Pennsylvania State University Press, and Kumarian Press. He evaluated article manuscripts for "Armed Forces & Society", "African Studies Review", "Journal of Developing Areas," and "Journal of Modern African Studies" and grant proposals for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Fulbright program. He also was Fellowship evaluator for the Fulbright Commission Council on International Education Services.

In addition, Welch was promotion evaluator for University of Virginia; Johns Hopkins University; University of California, Riverside; University of Southern California; University of Vermont; Dartmouth College; Southern Illinois University; Miami University of Ohio; University of South Carolina; and the University of Zambia, among others. He was on the academic advisory committee for graduate programs at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1999–2004.

In his 50-plus years teaching at UB, Professor Welch impacted both campus life and individual students. About his early years teaching, Welch told "UB Honors Today", “I started out really scared teaching. I remember being dressed formally—because that was the way in 1964—and I’d come back with chalk dust on my shoulders from rubbing up against the board. I was sort of backing away.” However, he quickly adjusted to the environment of university life and “as he began teaching honors seminars in the late 1980s, he realized he could utilize some of the principles of those smaller classes—such as debate and classroom discussion—and apply them to what had typically been larger, lecture-based classes.” Welch continues, “That’s contemporary learning. That’s how advances occur. It’s not now the image of the lone scholar locked in a garret somewhere. Yes, you can have brilliant thought experiments. You can be like Einstein in the patent office, totally bored and a failure in math in high school. But for the overwhelming bulk of us that are a couple of standard deviations below in terms of intelligence, you’ve got to work collaboratively.”

Welch's interests took him far beyond the campus and classroom. He believes in living a life of integrity. He told "UB Honors Today", “I try to be a role model for how to live. Have a relationship that is stable and loving. Be part of a community and help to make it a better community. Be generous with time and treasure. These are clichés, but you have to live them.”

The article published in "UB Honors Today" describes the influence Welch had on his students, prompting many of them to pursue graduate degrees in political science. “Halfway around the world, you’ll find former Welch-inspired scholars… Jori Breslawski (Honors Scholar, Class of 2014) was already an international studies major…but her specialization changed after taking Welch’s Human Rights course. ‘That was one of the pivotal moments in my life.… It completely changed how I saw the world. He taught in such a way that you couldn’t ignore what he was talking about. I would leave class crying and wouldn’t be able to get it out of my mind the rest of the day.’”

Welch's major academic impact came through his analyses of the effectiveness of human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), explored in his 2001 publication, "NGOs and Human Rights: Promise and Performance". He argued, particularly in his 2001 book "Protecting Human Rights in Africa," that NGOs have become central to the promotion and protection of human rights.

His recent research involves the effectiveness of human rights NGOs; he demonstrates that in key parts of civil society, NGOs have become central to the promotion and protection of human rights. His last major volume on this topic, tentatively titled Protecting Human Rights Globally: Strategies and Roles of International NGOs, remains unfinished as of this writing. It examines the impact of lesser known international nongovernmental organizations (INGO) such as Anti-Slavery International, the World Council of Churches, a variety of entities concerned with discrimination on the basis of descent (in particular, caste) and the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. These INGOs focus on major on-going human rights issues, notably contemporary slavery, racism, discrimination based on descent, and impunity from prosecution for major human rights abuses. Initial drafts of three chapters had been published in "Human Rights Quarterly" as of summer 2017.
Given his specialization in comparative politics, Welch carried out much of his research outside the United States. He traveled as well to enhance his teaching, learn about cultures, and satisfy his curiosity. Countries he visited include Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Ghana, Germany, Great Britain, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.

Welch's main geographic interest remained with Africa. One of his early appointments was chairman of the UNESCO Evaluation Commission, Alan Ikoku College of Education in Owerri, Nigeria, in January 1977. Later, Welch sat on the Advisory Committee for the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Banjul, Gambia, from 1993–2005 and the Advisory Committee for the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch from 1989–2009. He attended seminars organized by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, held in Burundi, Benin, and Botswana. These seminars focused on improving democratization efforts in Africa, particularly relating to armed forces.

Welch's 14 books and many published articles address three interdisciplinary areas: Africa, the political roles of armed forces (civil–military relations), and human rights. Among his most important volumes, already mentioned, are "Human Rights and Development in Africa", "Protecting Human Rights in Africa", and "Economic Rights in Canada and the United States." Although the three areas interrelate, Welch's titles can be listed among his three focus areas. In the interest of avoiding duplication, several volumes that overlap are mentioned only in the area most prevalent.

Welch's first book, "Dream of Unity: Pan-Africanism and Political Unification in West Africa", (1966) drew from his doctoral dissertation. It documented, through four case studies, the obstacles to greater unity among African countries with divergent colonial backgrounds. Henry L. Bretton from the University of Michigan reviewed the book in 1967, praising Welch for his focus on West Africa instead of the broader emphasis of Africa as a whole that many books of the time were concerned with. “Professor Welch’s meticulous scholarship, applied to West Africa only, has produced the kind of book required for better understanding of the substance of international relations.”

Welch's "Soldier and State in Africa" (1970) was one of the first comparative analyses of causes of coup d’état in Africa. It included Welch's framework, followed by original chapters from other specialists. Welch also drew upon his African expertise in "Peasants in Africa," co-edited with Alan K. Smith. This book inquired whether the concept of “peasant” would be useful in the sub-Saharan context).

"Human Rights and Development in Africa" (1984) co-edited with Ronald Meltzer, examined the emergent “Right to Development.” As mentioned above, it was selected by "Choice," as one of the Outstanding Academic Books of 1984.

Welch co-wrote "Military Role and Rule" (1974) with Arthur K. Smith. The book developed a general framework of explanation for coups d’état and their consequences. The authors prepared detailed studies of Thailand, Nigeria, Peru, Egypt, and France. In a review published in the "Journal of Politics", Mary B. Welfing wrote, “Welch and Smith synthesize the extensive literature on the military in politics.”

Welch returned to similar themes in 1976 in an edited volume, "Civilian Control of the Military: Theory and Cases from Developing Countries". Many of the original essays were presented at a conference Welch organized. He followed this up with his single-authored "No Farewell to Arms? Military Disengagement from Politics in Africa and Latin America" (1987). This volume examines problems of ensuring effective returns to the barracks of armed forces following coups d’état in three West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire) and three Andean states (Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru). The "Journal Armed Forces & Society" describes the book as a “welcome scholarly contribution that enhances our understanding of the intricacies of voluntary military disengagement from politics.” "Military Review" adds, “In this book, the contributors look at the issue of civilian control of the military from a comparative viewpoint…where the civilian government appears to be in control of the military, looking for some underlying principles which allowed that control to develop.… The thrust of the book is to tell not why civilian regimes fail, but why some succeed.” In the "Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs", David Pion-Berlin describes Welsh's “timely, much-needed comparative study of military withdrawal from power.… Disengagement, [Welsh] posits, is conditioned by institutional variables such as role perceptions, budgetary allotments, and military missions and deployment, and broader political variables such as levels of domestic conflict, economic trends, and political leadership.”

Welch's single-authored "Anatomy of Rebellion" (1980) provides a detailed examination and comparison of four large-scale peasant uprisings in Africa and Asia to determine whether they were “failed revolutions” or large-scale “rebellions.” Along the same line, he edited two books of previously published readings, "Political Modernization: Readings in Comparative Political Change" (1967; second edition 1971) and "Revolution and Political Change" (1972), co-edited with Mavis Bunker Taintor.

In 1967, Welch's "Modernization: Readings in Comparative Political Change" emphasized comparative aspects of political modernization. In "Developmental Change: An Annotated Bibliography", Allan A. Spitz draws three conclusions from Welch's thesis: “(1) modernization is complex and results in a fundamental transformation of society, economy, and polity; (2) modernization is not guaranteed—it is subject to disruption; and (3) it cannot be assumed that the wide-ranging changes will occur peacefully” (p. 141).

Welch's best-known work, "Protecting Human Rights in Africa", was pioneering and the first comparative analysis of the development and impact of grassroots human rights organizations south of the Sahara. It was selected by "Choice" as one of the outstanding academic books of 1995 and short listed that year by the African Studies Association for the Herskovits Prize for the best book in African studies. "Protecting Human Rights in Africa" received outstanding reviews due to its revolutionary nature. "Foreign Affairs" quoted it as “a wise, nuanced, and copiously referenced study for practitioners and donors as well as academic analysts” and the "Journal of Southern African Studies" described it as “one of the best books of its kind.”

In "NGOs and Human Rights: Promise and Performance" (2001), Welch commissioned five original chapters to use as case studies to form a framework that compares and contrasts ways in which non-governmental human rights organizations have developed their goals, determined their effectiveness, and adopted and adapted their strategies. The volume addresses how these factors influence NGOs’ effectiveness. Among the organizations examined are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, the Ford Foundation, and development-oriented NGOs.

"Asian Perspectives on Human Rights" (1990), co-edited with Virginia Leary, combined original case studies of individual Asian countries with a synthesizing introduction. The volume contains original papers presented at conferences that were organized by Welch and Leary. "Economic Rights in Canada and the United States" examined similarities and contrasts between the two countries in areas such as the right to health care, social welfare and racism, disability rights, and others. This volume was based on original papers commissioned by Professors Hassmann and Welch with funding from various sources.

In addition to the volumes above, Welch contributed 39 chapters to scholarly books; 41 articles for refereed journals and 27 articles for non-refereed journals; nine encyclopedia entries; six monographs and consultant's reports; 20 unpublished conference presentations; and nine invited and professional addresses. He won 32 research, symposium, and internship grants and six university research grants. In addition, Welch reviewed grant applications for the National Science Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Grawemeyer Foundation, and the United States Institute of Peace.

Through his career, Welch has supported community life in Western New York, becoming a well-known civic figure and supporter of human rights causes. He served as president of the Buffalo Council on World Affairs from 1997 to 1999 and helped to establish Buffalo-Niagara World Connect. He served on the board of directors for the Harvard Club of Western New York (1998–2001) and the African American Cultural Center of Buffalo. Welch also belonged to the Pundit Club of Buffalo, a men's literary and social group.

Welch's participation in the Buffalo religious community has given him recognition in more than just the academic circles in the city. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, Welch has served as a Ruling Elder, chairman of the Management Group, chair of the Adult Program Committee, and chair of the Investment Policy Committee.
He also participated in the Amherst Community Church, serving on the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and the Music Committee. In 1972, he served as a reporter on religion and ethics for WBEN-TV (now WIVB-TV) as part of his volunteer work for the Buffalo Council of Churches. In 2000, he received the first Claude E. Welch, Jr. award for outstanding voluntarism on behalf of the Buffalo Council on World Affairs (now Buffalo-Niagara WorldConnect), 2000.

Welch was vice president of CAUSE (Coalition for Action, Unity, and Social Equality), 1970–71; secretary of the Buffalo-area branch of American Civil Liberties Union, 1972–74; served on the Board of Directors of the African American Cultural Center of Buffalo, 1967–74; and for several years as a lecturer for in service courses given for secondary school teachers in Williamsville, Niagara Falls, Hamburg, Lockport, Cheektowaga, and Buffalo. He currently gives lectures at senior citizen centers in Erie County, New York.

An enthusiastic biker and environmentalist, he was involved in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee, "Pedal Power" and BIKE-WNY (Bicyclists Intent on Kinder Environments of Western New York), serving as editor of Pedal Power from 1990–94.

On the national front, Welch was a participant in “One America: Conversations that Bring Us Together,” sponsored by the White House Initiative on Race, 1999, and was featured on national television programs. He was highlighted on CBS Sunday Morning during a February 16, 2014, episode dedicated to celebrating the presidency of Millard Fillmore. Welch participated in and was a one-day champion in the television program “Jeopardy” along with competitors Mike Stafford and Nancy Neff, which aired as the 23rd episode of the 1987 season.

Welch has received many awards and distinctions over the years. In 1992, he received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the University Libraries. According to an article in the newsletter "Library News," Welch received the award, as well as a Bison wristwatch, as the "Faculty Member Most Helpful to the Libraries over the Past Year." Also at the university level, Welch received three awards from the University at Buffalo Office of the Provost:  Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching (1974), Distinguished Service Award (1989), and the UB President's Medal (2016). He was named one of University at Buffalo's “Top Ten” professors by the campus newspaper, "The Spectrum", in 2012.

At the national level, Welch received three lifetime achievement awards. The first came jointly from TIAA and the SUNY Research Foundation  in 2006, the first time this recognition was given. The award was established to recognize individuals "who serve those who serve others for the greater good." In 2014, the American Political Science Association presented a Distinguished Scholar award to Welch for his work in human rights. The International Studies Association gave him its Human Rights Distinguished Scholar Award for 2014–15.

On May 15, 1942, Welch went to war. He left behind one son (Claude E. Welch Jr. born June 12, 1939) and a pregnant wife, as well as his job at the MGH. He felt that this was a necessary sacrifice in order to serve his country in its time of need. He departed Boston with 123 other surgeons, physicians, and nurses from the MGH to Camp Blanding, Florida for training. Together they helped to constitute the 6th General Hospital.

Claude E. Welch

Claude E. Welch (March 14, 1906 – March 9, 1996) was an internationally recognized surgeon whose career spanned forty years. For most of those forty years, Welch worked at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was involved with a variety of activities that included “patient care, teaching, clinical research, establishment of funds to maintain such activities, promotion of all aspects of medical education, and strengthening of ties between the government, the courts, the legal profession and physicians.”

Known as a “bold and skillful surgeon in the abdomen,” Welch performed anywhere between 15,000 and 20,000 procedures by the age of 75. He served as president in 8 of the 20 medical associations to which he belonged, wrote more than 200 articles and chapters, authored or edited six books, including his own autobiography, developed a safe technique for performing a duodenostomy, and was one of only six physicians summoned to Rome to consult about the treatment of Pope John Paul II when he was shot in 1981.

While there is no doubt about his skill with a scalpel, he set himself apart from other surgeons by establishing and maintaining a superb rapport with his patients – something he considered essential to good patient care. Beyond the operating room, Welch fought for racial equality at the American Medical Association (AMA) and to establish standards for American Medical Practice. Welch considered these items among some of the most important things he did.

Claude E. Welch was the eldest child of John and Lettie Phelan Welch. He was born on March 14, 1906, in the town of Stanton, Nebraska. From a very young age, Welch showed great intellectual promise, advancing through the first three grades in the city school in a mere three months. He attributed his rapid advancement to the excellent preschool education he received at home.

By the age of 12, he was working in a local drugstore helping to distribute prescriptions. While the pay was not great, he claimed that he was more than adequately compensated by the amount of candy and ice cream he was able to eat. He continued to work at DeWitt and Drewelow's Drugstore during and after high school. About a year after graduating high school, Welch determined it was time to go to college.

After considering his options, Welch departed for Doane College in 1923. He believed that although Doane was small, it had many fine professors and offered a wide variety of courses. Wanting to take advantage of this, he took as many courses as possible from a wide spectrum of disciplines including astronomy and English – all while fulfilling the requirements of chemistry major. In addition to his class work, Welch also took on the responsibility of being editor of the student paper. Furthermore, he joined the glee club and participated in a number of sports. His wide participation in a variety of sports could be linked to one of his greatest ambitions at the time. His ambition was to earn an “Honor D” – a letter given to athletes to place on their sweaters for athletic accomplishment. Although Welch was not immediately successful, he was not deterred. In his last semester, he went out for Tennis where he won enough matches to reach the semifinals. This earned him his “Honor D.”

Two months before graduation, Welch decided that he would rather go into the medical field than work in a laboratory as a chemist. Following a conversation with his uncle Joseph N. Welch, he determined that Harvard Medical School (HMS) would be the right school for him. Before he entered medical school, however, Welch not only had to fulfill some premedical requirements, but he wanted to earn his master's in chemistry. After making arrangements with the Dean of Harvard Medical School, he enrolled at Columbia University where he fulfilled his premedical requirements over the summer. When the summer was over, he left Columbia University and enrolled in the University of Missouri. It was here he would earn his master's in chemistry.

While at the University of Missouri, he completed the required classes, wrote his thesis on a new diketopiperazine compound that he had discovered, and worked as a professor in the chemistry department. He earned this degree in a year and a summer instead of the standard two years. The time he spent in the laboratory at the University was invaluable for Welch because it confirmed that a life in medicine – rather than a life the laboratory – was the right life for him. This is because he much preferred the human contact medicine provided over the silence that sometimes ran supreme in the laboratory.

Welch began medical school in 1928. Harvard Medical School was everything that it promised to be. From the very first week, he was introduced to world-famous physicians. He used the opportunity to learn from individuals who were at the top of their respective fields. It was in these first few weeks that he was introduced to a person who would become one of the most important mentors in his life, Dr. Arthur Allen.

The first year at medical school was filled with memorization and dissections, but by the second year he was out in the field. He had his first internship during his second year at Boston City Hospital. It was here that he was introduced to surgery. In his third year, he worked as a resident at Huntington Hospital. In his fourth year, he went back to Boston City Hospital.

Welch graduated from HMS in the midst of the Great Depression. Times were not easy, but the class of 1932 recognized the superb education that they had received from Harvard and were determined to make the most of it.

Welch had earned his bachelor's and master's degrees – plus completed his premedical requirements—in five years. He had graduated magna cum laude from HMS in four years. Furthermore, he had achieved all of this while working in drugstores and cafeterias in order to pay for his education.

Following medical school, Welch began an internship at Massachusetts General Hospital (the MGH). As an intern, Welch was able to observe and work with eminent surgeons. At the end of his internship, Welch became an assistant resident of the East Service. As an assistant resident of the East Service, he worked with Dr. Arthur Allen. This marked the beginning of their mentor-mentee relationship. Following the end of his residency, Allen offered Welch a five-year position as his assistant.

It is funny to note, that Welch was not certified to practice surgery until 1939 – a full seven years after he graduated medical school. This is because the American Board of Surgery did not come into existence until 1937. Welch was actually only the 101st surgeon to be certified by this board. Prior to the 1930s, there had been little oversight of the medical community, but that began to change as the 20th century progressed. Indeed, the requirement for certification was only the beginning. Many more regulations would come some of which Welch would have a role in forming.

In 1933, Welch met the person who would become the love of his life – Phyllis Paton. They met at the MGH where she was working as a student nurse. Although fraternization between residents and student nurses was forbidden, Paton and Welch decided to follow their hearts. Luckily their relationship resulted it only one minor reprimand for her from the understanding director of the school of nursing.

Paton had originally wanted to attend Smith College and study to become a doctor. But her father became severely ill and she decided to enter the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing instead. Another factor that potentially played a role in Paton's decision was the fact that it was in the middle of the Great Depression and nursing school was significantly cheaper than Smith College – even with a scholarship.

After graduating from the MGH School of Nursing in 1936, Paton returned to her native Montreal and enrolled in McGill University. After obtaining her degree from McGill, she had intended to attend McGill University Medical School. But life – and Welch – had other plans. Welch and Paton were married on August 14, 1937.

Their honeymoon around the Gaspe Peninsula and the Maine woods was the first of many trips the two would take together. Paton – now Mrs. Welch – and Welch would travel across the globe and make friends everywhere they went. They believed that discovering new geographic areas was one of life's joys.

Following their honeymoon, Welch began his position as Dr. Allen's assistant. The days began at 6:00 am and did not end until well into the night. None the.less, “every moment was a delight because [he] learned how to become not only a better surgeon, but a humane physician.”
This was particularly important for Welch as he believed that caring for the person was as important as caring for the disease that ailed them. Welch often went well above and beyond for his patients. Welch's commitment was obvious early on. In his first year as a resident under Dr. Allen, he and his wife gave small gifts to all of his patients on Christmas. Seeing how much this was appreciated, they continued the practice year after year.

Claude E. Welch died on March 9, 1996. He was survived by his wife Phyllis; their two sons, Claude E Welch Jr., professor emeritus of political science at University at Buffalo and John Paton Welch, a retired surgeon, of Hartford, Connecticut; and seven grandchildren.

In January 1943, the 6th General Hospital was deployed to North Africa. While there, he and his colleagues discovered that many lessons learned in previous conflicts could not be applied. This was because some medical treatments used in prior conflicts were simply not effective for the different situations that WWII presented. For example:

In the spring of 1943, Welch was assigned to one of the general hospitals close to the front lines in Rome. At this hospital, there were often more than 150 surgeries a day.

Welch stayed at the front lines until the war ended in 1945. His service in WWII was a significant part of his life for not only did he learn many important medical lessons, but he formed friendships that would last a lifetime. In his autobiography, he summarized the impact of the war using a quote from Colonel Washburn:
“Horrible as War is, there are by-products of value. Lifetime friendships are formed. Men who have campaigned together know one another thoroughly. Fine traits of character are brought out, and in contrast the less admirable ones fail of concealment. Men learn the relative importance of things. A man who has parted from his home and risked his life has learned the comparative unimportance’s of social position and riches. He values accomplishment, service to others, his home life, his chance to raise a family in comfort and security.”

After the war, Welch returned to the MGH. The MGH was (and still is) one of the nation's finest hospitals and Welch would help pave the path for surgical advancements there during the second phase of his career. Two of the more important developments in surgery advanced by Welch included the development of a safe method of performing a catheter duodenostomy and performing the first replacement of an artery with a vein graft at MGH.

In the early 20th century, performing a duodenostomy was considered very unsafe. Indeed, one surgeon who had attempted to perform the operation had a 100 percent death rate. Welch studied notes from the surgeon and determined that he had used “so large a drainage tube that an enormous duodenal fistula resulted through the tube and the patients died of electrolyte imbalance.” So when a patient of his in the late 1930s presented an inflamed duodenum and there was a no choice but to remove two-thirds of the stomach, Welch used a new method which he had been developing. He used a catheter to close the duodenal stump. The operation was a success. Following his success, he made an effort to find out if any similar procedures had been used by surgeons. After discovering two other surgeons who had used a similar technique, Welch reported this new method of performing a duodenostomy to the "Journal of the American Medical Association" (JAMA) in 1949.

In the early 1940s, the only acceptable way to treat a severed artery was ligation. The hope was that this would prevent gangrene – although it rarely did. After seeing the results of a failed ligation, Welch vowed to try something different. An opportunity presented itself when a man was brought in with a dislocated knee and damaged popliteal artery. Welch performed an artery graft and the leg immediately regained life.

As a surgeon, not only did Welch perform remarkable surgeries, but he had the opportunity to work on remarkable individuals. One of his more famous patients was a geologist who came in with a rare form of intestinal malrotation. Welch successfully fixed the rotation and sent the man on to a successful recovery. This man was Harrison Schmitt who later became both the first scientist to walk on the moon and a US senator from his home state.

Perhaps his most famous patient however was Pope John Paul II. On May 13, 1981, the Pope was shot twice. Three days later, Welch was called to consult with the other physicians and surgeons on the Pope's care. He was one of only six physicians summoned to Rome to consult about the treatment of the Pope. Some time after his return to Boston, he received a thank you letter from Pope John Paul II. This letter was one of his most prized possessions.

Given MGH's close ties with Harvard Medical School – and Welch's own ties with the institution – it was only natural that he would want to continue to be involved with HMS. This involvement included teaching responsibilities and serving on various school committees. One committee – of which he was the chairman of – was dedicated to the examination of continuing medical education. In his role as chairman, he helped to institute postgraduate courses at the MGH in cancer and gastrointestinal surgery. This was done in accordance with the appeal to make medical education a lifetime adventure. Welch took his responsibilities at Harvard Medical School very seriously and indeed “viewed his contributions to education as second only to his role in improving patient care.”

In addition to his work at HMS, Welch published articles in the New England Journal of Medicine. These articles included surveys of recent developments in abdominal surgery. These surveys had originally started with Dr. Allen, but Welch picked them up as Dr. Allen's health began to deteriorate in the 1950s. These articles were just the tip of the iceberg so to speak, for in addition to these surveys, Welch contributed many articles on abdominal surgery, cancer surgery, medical ethics, and thoughts on malpractice. Welch was eventually made a member of the Committee of Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) in 1962. He became chairman in 1969 and served until 1980.

In 1965, Welch accepted the post of president of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS). The acceptance of this post corresponded with the rise of the relationship between medicine and politics. As president of the MMS, he witnessed the types of challenges that would erupt as a result of this new relationship. He also saw the beginnings of malpractice suits. These problems had not come front and center yet though as physicians at the time were still relatively independent.

The same year that he was elected president of the MMS, Welch was elected to serve as a delegate from the state of Massachusetts at the American Medical Association (AMA). This was the first time he had dealt with the AMA on a national level. Prior to that, he had only been on its Residency Review Committee for Surgery. Welch served in the House as a delegate for a decade. During this time, the AMA was confronted with the problem of racism. Technically racial equality existed within the AMA, but it was in name only. In 1968, the Massachusetts delegation, of which Welch was a chairman, prepared a resolution for the Reference Committee. It called for any state association in violation of existing AMA rules (i.e. racial equality) to be expelled from the AMA. This provoked quite a debate on the floor. Welch only added fuel to the fire when he spoke after the resolution was presented. He ended his speech with the following declaration: “It is our contention that this council and House must have such power whenever any action is so fundamental that it involves guarantees extended by the Constitution of the United States.” The resolution was adopted and approved at the next meeting.

In 1975, Welch ran to be president of the AMA. Despite his campaign, he lost to Carl Hoffman – the favored candidate of the race. Hoffman not only was from a smaller, less liberal state than Massachusetts (West Virginia), but had served as secretary of the Board of Trustees at the AMA. During his bid, Welch pressed for “professional standards review organizations” and chaired an AMA committee that drew up “model criteria for patient care.”

Despite his failed bid, Welch was one of the two nominees to receive the Distinguished Service Award of the AMA in 1977. This was the highest honor conferred by the organization. Indeed, Welch was one of the few surgeons who had received it at that point.
In addition to the AMA, Welch was also a part of the American College of Surgeons – one of the largest and most influential national surgical colleges in the world. Welch's involvement with the ACS began in 1939. His decision to join at the time was due in no small part to his mentor Dr. Arthur Allen's devotion to the organization.

Welch's own involvement in the ACS did not extend beyond attending annual meetings and presenting papers until 1960. His involvement with it ran parallel to his involvement with the AMA. This presented Welch with a variety of challenges as there were strong tensions between the ACS and AMA at the time. Some of these tensions were a result of the thought that the AMA supported primary care over medical and surgical specialties. In 1973, he was elected president of the American College of Surgeons.

Shortly following his presidency of the ACS – and his failed bid for presidency at the AMA – Welch was elected president of the American Surgical Association (ASA). The ASA – which had started as an offshoot of the AMA – is the most prestigious surgical association in America.

During his term in office, two important issues arose. One issue was the allegations made by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that the ASA (and other professional organizations) were restraining trade by publishing lists of suggested charges for medical procedures. The ASA stood up for its actions and submitted the required documentation to the FTC. The FTC did not find any violations of free trade and thus declared the ASA innocent of any such charges. The second issue arose in the form of malpractice suits. This issue had been growing over the past decades, but came to the front in the 1970s. Many questions arose as a result of the growth. How were individuals who brought suits going to be fairly and equitably compensated? One option Welch helped the industry explore was a variant of no-fault insurance. This option listed problems that could occur in surgery and a list of suggested compensations should any of these problems arise. The American Bar Association refused to endorse such a method.

As he was acting as president of the ASA, Welch simultaneously fulfilled his duties as chairman on the new Massachusetts Board of Registration and Discipline in Medicine for the state of Massachusetts. During his time as chairman, the board ruled that “physician’s could not refuse to treat welfare patients just because they were on Medicaid, that women were entitled to full information about the alternative treatments for breast cancer, and that continuing medical education be required for licensure.” In addition to creating new safety regulations and punishing those physicians that did not follow these regulations, the Board also forged important bonds between the medical community and the government.

These bonds were partly the result of the fact that doctors whose licenses were being taken away were often the ones being brought forward before the courts for medical malpractice. And while physicians often complained that the public was litigious, clear instances existed where the patient deserved to be compensated. What Welch, and others were concerned about however, were the large – sometimes arbitrary – settlements that patients received which cause a huge burden for physicians in the form of malpractice insurance. That is why Welch helped to design a list of twenty compensable events while he was president of the ASA. It was thought that this would bring more equality and predictability to the system and save millions in court fees and such.

Welch wrote more than 200 articles and chapters, and he authored or edited six books. Topics include breast cancer, subtotal gastroenterology for duodenal ulcer, prophylactic surgery for colorectal cancer, history of Canadian surgery, diverticulitis of the colon, resectability and survival in stomach cancer, and guidelines for continuum of care. In addition to his research, Welch addressed social issues and the future of the medical profession. He discussed diverse topics such as quality of care, teaching of surgery in medical schools, and the surgical fee system.

Published books include "Intestinal Obstruction," "Surgery of the Stomach & Duodenum" also published in Spanish, "Polypoid Lesions of the Gastrointestinal Tract," and "Manual of Lower Gastrointestinal Surgery" co-authored with his son John P. Welch and Leslie W. Ottinger and also published in German. Claude Welch's final book was titled "A Twentieth Century Surgeon: My Life in the Massachusetts General Hospital." These titles highlight not only Welch's awareness and knowledge of the broad aspects surrounding GI and oncologic surgery, but also of medical economics and organizations.

As Welch's reputation as a caring physician and daring crusader for equal rights grew, he began to win recognition for his achievements. Awards he received included:In 1992, Welch released his autobiography detailing his life. This autobiography was more than just a reflection of his life – it was a reflection on the changes that had occurred in medicine and surgery throughout the 20th century. A review by William Longmire and H. Kim Lyerly put it succinctly: “Claude has recorded not only a sketch of Boston and the Massachusetts General Hospital and Staff, but a much broader chronicle of 20th century medicine and contemporary thought; as well as a glimpse of life during this period, with penetrating comments on current health care problems as viewed through the eyes of a most thoughtful, experience, and observant scribe”

His legacy includes the Claude E. Welch Research and Education Fund, the endowed Claude E. Welch fellowship for residents to spend time in research, the Claude E. Welch Chair of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and thousands of grateful patients.