Rate My Professor Michael Welch

Welch specialized in radiopharmaceutical chemistry, developing practical techniques for rapid synthesis of short-lived tracers essential for PET in biomedical research and clinical imaging. His innovations included O-15 tracers for measuring cerebral blood flow and metabolism, spurring functional neuroimaging, as well as agents for studying hypoxia, tumor receptors, antigens, and chemotherapy outcomes, with applications across various cancers. Recent efforts involved an $18 million NIH contract for nanosystems in diagnosis and therapy. Authoring more than 550 papers, four books, and 73 book chapters, Welch was widely regarded as the global leader in his field, mentoring numerous doctoral candidates and postdoctoral fellows who attained senior academic roles. His honors encompassed election to the Institute of Medicine, the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Benedict Cassen Award and Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Medicine Pioneer Award, the naming of the Michael J. Welch Award in 2008 for radiopharmaceutical research contributions, Washington University’s Distinguished Faculty Award and Second Century Award, and honorary fellowship of the American College of Radiology. He presided over the Society of Nuclear Medicine from 1984 to 1985 and was the first president of the Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences.