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Office
Columbia University Medical Center
51 Audubon Ave, Ste. 100
New York, NY 10032Phone+1 212-342-4400
Summary
- Martha G. Welch, M.D. is Director of the Nurture Science Program and Director of the BrainGut Initiative in Developmental Neuroscience. She is also a Professor of Psychiatry in Pediatrics and Pathology & Cell Biology at Columbia University Medical Center. She has been a pioneer in the research and treatment of emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders for more than 40 years. Her clinical insights have led her to challenge some of the longest-held assumptions in science about the origin and control of behavior and emotions. Currently, Dr. Welch is leading a team of multidisciplinary researchers to provide a new scientific understanding of the biological underpinnings of family emotional connection.
Education & Training
- Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineFellowship, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1974 - 1977
- Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineResidency, Psychiatry, 1972 - 1974
- Greenwich HospitalInternship, Transitional Year, 1971 - 1972
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsClass of 1971
- New York UniversityPost Baccalaureate Studies, 1966 - 1967
- New York University, Washington Square CollegeBA, 1964 - 1966
- Middlebury CollegeUndergraduate, French, 1962 - 1964
Certifications & Licensure
- NY State Medical License 1972 - 2025
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychiatry
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- DFAPA Distinguished Fellow American Psychiatric Association, 2019
- Gold Medal for Meritorious Service Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2014
- Physicians & Surgeons Alumni Lifetime Learning Award Columbia University Medical Center, 2013
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Clinical Trials
- Family Nurture Intervention (FNI) in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Start of enrollment: 2008 Jun 01
- Students Education Training in Emotional Connection Start of enrollment: 2018 Sep 14
- Children's Learning Centers Group FNI Start of enrollment: 2019 Jan 29
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Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- 112 citationsFamily Nurture Intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit improves social-relatedness, attention, and neurodevelopment of preterm infants at 18 months in a rando...Martha G. Welch, Morgan R. Firestein, Judy Austin, Amie Ashley Hane, Raymond I. Stark
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. 2015-11-01 - 9 citationsFacilitating early parent-infant emotional connection improves cortical networks in preterm infants.Pauliina Yrjölä, Michael M Myers, Martha G Welch, Nathan J Stevenson, Anton Tokariev
Science Translational Medicine. 2022-09-28 - 21 citationsEnteric serotonin and oxytocin: endogenous regulation of severity in a murine model of necrotizing enterocolitis.Kara Gross Margolis, Jennifer Vittorio, Maria Talavera, Karen Gluck, Zhishan Li
American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2017-11-01
Journal Articles
- Colostrum oxytocin modulates cellular stress response, inflammation and autophagy markers in newborn rat gut villiWelch MG, Kelin,BY, Tamir H, Ludwig RJ, Glickstein SB, Biochem Biophys Res Commun., 5/20/2017
- Prairie vole pups show potentiated isolation-induced vocalization following isolation from their mother, but not their fatherRobison W.T., Myers M.M., Hofer M.A., Shair H.N., Welch M.G., Developmental Psychobiology, 1/16/2016
- Calming cycle theory: The roll of visceral/autonomic learning in early mother and infant/child behaviour and developmentWelch M.G., Acta Paediatrica, 1/10/2016
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Books/Book Chapters
Abstracts/Posters
- Validation of a Relational Screen for Emotional Connection in Preterm Infants.Welch, M.G., Hane, A.A., LaCoursiere J.N., Ludwig, R.J., Myers,M.M., Mitsuyama, M., Weinman, S., Browne, J., Pediatric Adademic Societies, San Francisco, CA, 2017
- Welch Emotional Connection Scale (WECS). Program No. 202019.Welch, M.G., Hane, A.A., LaCoursiere J.N., Ludwig, R.J., Myers, M.M., Neuroscience Abstracts, Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, 1/1/2016
- Maternal potentiation of ultrasonic vocalizations is not a marker of stress.Welch, M.G., Hane, A.A., LaCoursiere J.N., Ludwig, R.J., Myers, M.M., Neuroscience Abstracts, Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, 1/1/2016
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Lectures
- Family Nurture Intervention and effects on physiology in areas important for development of executive function.Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden - 1/16/2014
- Implementing FNI in a high acuity NICU.Clearwater Beach, FL - 1/26/2013
- FNI RCT in the NICU: Why did a small dose get big effects?Clearwater Beach, FL - 1/25/2013
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Press Mentions
- Parental Support Improves the Brain Development of Prematurely Born InfantsSeptember 28th, 2022
- Part 2 — the Science of Nurturing and Its Impact on Premature BabiesMay 31st, 2017
- The Simple Acts of Care That Could Help Heal the Trauma of Premature BirthMay 30th, 2017
Grant Support
- Nurture Science ProgramColumbia University2016–2020
- Nurture Science ProgramColumbia University2013–2017
- Nurture Science ProgramColumbia University2013–2016
- Nurture Science ProgramColumbia University2008–2015
- Brain-Gut InitiativeColumbia University2012–2013
- Brain-Gut InitiativeColumbia University2011–2012
- Brain-Gut InitiativeColumbia University2006–2011
- Laboratory for Childhood Regulatory DisordersColumbia University2002–2010
- Laboratory for Imaging and Holding TherapyColumbia University1997–2006
Committees
- Member, Admissions Committee, Columbia University College of Physicians & 2011 - Present
- President - Director - Member, Alumni Association, Columbia University, Physicians & Surgeons 1995 - Present
- Member, Development Committee Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons 2007 - 2011
- Advisory Board Member, Program Committee Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons 1997 - 2003
Research History
- Director of Nurture Science Program, CUMCTranslational research program to investigate biology of nurture and provide an evidence base for family nurture intervention in children ages 0-5.2016 - Present
- Co-Director of Nurture Science Program, CUMCTranslational research program to investigate biological underpinnings of nurture and establish an evidence base for family nurture interventions.2006 - 2016
- Director of Brain-Gut Initiative, CUMC1997 - 2006
Professional Memberships
- Member
- International Society for Developmental PsychobiologyMember
- Society for NeuroscienceMember
Other Languages
- Spanish, French
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