Sarah A. Welch, DO, MPH

Dr. Welch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a Nashville VA Quality Scholar Fellow, a Vanderbilt MPH candidate, and a member of the Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program. She graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Biology and a Minor in Technical Writing. She then went on to work in regulatory management of clinical trials while receiving her M.A. in Clinical Investigation at Boston University. During medical school, Dr. Welch was awarded funding from the American Federation for Aging Research to study geriatric mobility decline and falls at Harvard Medical School. She completed residency in PM&R at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Welch’s clinical work is now focused on rehabilitation consulting in Vanderbilt contracted skilled nursing facilities for patients with rehabilitation and long-term care needs. Dr. Welch’s research interests lie in geriatric rehabilitative care as it applies to acute care, post-acute care, and transitions of care. She is passionate about delivering evidence-based practices to older adults and evaluating interventions that improve processes and patient outcomes.

Outside of work, Dr. Welch enjoys running, rollerblading, paddle boarding, biking, cooking, reading, podcasts, dogs, and being around friends and family.