Martha G. Welch

Martha G. Welch
Welch at Columbia University Medical Center in 2014
Born	Martha Grace Welch Buffalo, New York
Nationality	American
Citizenship	U.S.
Known for	Promotion of attachment therapy
Partner	Robert J. Ludwig
Awards	2014 Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to Columbia University, College of Surgeons & Physicians, 2013 Physicians & Surgeons Alumni Lifetime Learning Award
Scientific career
Fields	Clinical psychiatry, Neonatal and Infant Development, Child Development

Martha G. Welch is an American physician and researcher specializing in the fields of infant and child development. Welch currently serves as a

Welch published the book "Holding Time” in 1988.[8]^[9] The book promoted the use of prolonged parent-child embrace, a physical technique to increase communication and emotional connection between parent and child.^[8][10][11] Welch claimed the technique could lower the risk of autism in children, for which she was later criticized.^[8][12][13]

Research

At Columbia University Medical Center, she began preclinical research investigating secretin and oxytocin in the brain and the effects of combined oxytocin/secretin on an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease.^[14] In 2004 she began a collaboration with Michael D. Gershon M.D. pioneering research on the role of oxytocin in the gut. Welch and Gershon later established the Columbia University Brain Gut Initiative to further their understanding the mechanisms of nurture and they condition the brain-gut axis.^[15]

Oxytocin in Perinatal Development

Welch was the lead author of a peer-reviewed article published in the January 2009 issue of The Journal of Comparative Neurology,^[16][17] which found that oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptors (OTR) likely play important roles in the development and functioning of the enteric nervous system.^[17][16] The 2009 study also found that OTR were present in fetal gut cells and tissue during the perinatal period of fetal development;^[17] and multiple later studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effects of OT appear to play an important protective roles for both the brain and the gastrointestinal system during birth.^[17]

Family interaction with infants

Welch was the lead author of a peer-reviewed article published in the April 2014 issue of Clinical Neurophysiology.^[18][19] The results of this 2014 study indicated that the presence of physical contact and care in the NICU has positive neurobiological effects on preterm infants.^[19][20][18] Welch's FNI approach incorporates “calming” human interactions between mothers and infants such as holding their infants, comfort touch, scent cloth exchange, eye contact, emotional expression, and skin-to-skin care.^[1][19][21] Although these sorts of interactions with infants in an NICU setting appear to have positive effects on infant development, the exact benefits of such contact are difficult to predict because of genetic, environmental, and other factors that vary from case to case.^[1][19] Multiple studies testing long term outcomes of family nurture intervention versus standard care have also found that this treatment appears to provide positive effects on the development of other neurocognitive functions such as language acquisition or emotional regulation.^[19][21]

Awards and honors

• 2019 Awarded Distinguished Fellowship of the American Psychiatric Association
• 2014 Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to Columbia University. College of Physicians & Surgeons^[22]
• 2013 P&S Alumni Lifetime Learning Award^[23]
• 2011 Columbia University Alumni Medal for Meritorious Service^[24]
• 1995 Middlebury College Distinguished Alumni Award^[25]

Personal life

Welch lives in New York City with her partner, Robert J. Ludwig, the managing director of the Nurture Science Program at Columbia University Medical Center's Department of Pediatrics. She has one son, and two grandsons living in Houston, Texas.

References