Michael Welch
Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of the Health & Exercise Science Program
As a board certified athletic trainer, Dr. Michael Welch is fortunate to work alongside many colleagues from different backgrounds in the healthcare and exercise science fields. His interest in sports medicine stems largely from the collaborative process involved in diagnosing, treating, and planning the return to activity of every patient. Having an additional certification in strength and conditioning allows him to combine both areas in clinical settings to complement injury prevention and recovery, while enhancing outcomes in each patient's desired activity/goal.
His research interests focus on interprofessional education and its role in preparing healthcare students for the collaborative skills needed in providing quality patient care. As healthcare teams continue to involve professions from all areas, the need for students across different fields of study to collaborate and learn from one another throughout their educational journey is crucial to the continued growth of the healthcare field.
As a faculty member in the Health and Exercise Science program, he thinks that having students in class with varying professional interests is a great atmosphere to be a part of. Through a variety of courses, they can collectively learn different perspectives and approaches on applying material learned in class toward different patient populations and settings. This application of classroom material to real-world experiences is a cornerstone of our commitment to student success in obtaining their professional goals.
Education
- PhD, Health Professions Education, from Simmons University
- MS, Kinesiology, from University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- BS, Athletic Training, from Lasell University
License/Certifications
- BOC Certified in Athletic Training
- NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Licensed Athletic Trainer in the state of Massachusetts
Area of Expertise
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Performance
Courses
- BIO/EXSC233 Strength & Conditioning
- BIO/EXSC246.L Foundations of Exercise & Health Lab
- BIO/EXSC362 Kinesiology
- BIO/EXSC362.L Kinesiology Lab
- BIO370 Internship Seminar
Publications/Presentations
- "Integration of IPEC Core competencies into Athletic Training Education" – 2021 Commission of Accreditation on Athletic Training Education (CAATE) conference, Orlando FL
- Schweiterman, J.M., Welch, M., Breitbach, A. (2023). Athletic Training Preceptor Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice in Clinical Learning Experiences. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice (IJAHSP), 21(2)
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- Athletic Trainers' of Massachusetts (ATOM)
- College Athletic Trainers' Society (CATS)
- Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association (EATA)
- National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Shout-outs from Students and Alums
Major Spotlight: Sydney Iannantuono ’23, Exercise Science
Simmons Academic Mentor, Sydney Iannantuono, tells us what she loves about being an exercise science major and why she thinks her program has the best faculty.