Claude Welch, Former Clinical Professor of Surgery, Dies at 89

Claude E. Welch, clinical professor of surgery emeritus, died March 9 at Massachusetts General Hospital following a stroke he suffered at his home. He was 89 and lived in Westwood.

"Claude Welch was a hero of clinical surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School," said Daniel C. Tosteson, Dean of the Harvard Faculty of Medicine. "He inspired generations of young surgeons."

Welch gained international notice in 1981, when he consulted with Italian specialists treating Pope John Paul II for a gunshot wound suffered during an assassination attempt.

Welch received his bachelor's degree from Doane College in 1927, and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1932. Welch wrote many surgical textbooks and hundreds of papers for medical journals. His autobiography, A Twentieth Century Surgeon: My Life in the Massachusetts General Hospital, was published in 1992.

Welch won numerous awards, including the Bigelow Medal of the Boston Surgical Society and the Nathan Smith Award of the New England Surgical Society.

He served as president of the American College of Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, the Massachusetts Medical Society, and the Boston Surgical Society.

Several years ago, Massachusetts General Hospital created the Claude E. Welch Research and Teaching Fund, which supports surgical resident education.

Harvard Medical School established the Claude E. Welch Professor of Surgery endowed chair in 1992 on the 60th anniversary of Welch's graduation from the school.

Welch leaves his wife, Phyllis (Paton); two sons, Claude E. Jr. of Buffalo, N.Y., and John P. of Hartford; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 28, at the Memorial Church.