Exercise science, pharmacy practice experts join new faculty

Medical Center leadership is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff.

Michael A. Welsch, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael A. Welsch, professor and chair of exercise science at Lebanon Valley College, has joined the Medical Center faculty as a professor of population health science.

After receiving his B.S. in physical education in 1984 and his M.S. in exercise physiology in 1986 at North Texas State University, Denton, Welsch served as an exercise physiologist and as cardiac rehabilitation/wellness program director at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, before joining the University of Florida, Gainesville. At Florida, he was a teaching assistant in the Department of Exercise Science, a research and teaching assistant in the Department of Medicine and a research assistant in the Center for Exercise Science while he concurrently earned his Ph.D. in health and human performance in 1996.

Welsch joined Louisiana State University in 1996 as an assistant professor of kinesiology, became an associate professor of kinesiology in 2002 and, ultimately, professor of kinesiology in 2011. In 2013, he joined the University of Bedfordshire, U.K., as a professor of sport sciences and physical activity and director of the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research there. He returned to the U.S. in 2017 as professor and chair of exercise science at Lebanon Valley College.

Welsch has participated in a number of multidisciplinary/institutional research efforts with a focus on aging and chronic disease. Together with his students he has authored or coauthored 70 articles in peer-reviewed professional journals and six book chapters. Welsch also has served as associate editor for Medicine Science Sports and Exercise and PLOS.

A fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, Welsch has given more than 60 presentations at scientific meetings nationally and internationally. His research interests include physical (In)activity, exercise training, human performance, vascular biology, aging and chronic disease.

Whitney White, Pharm.D.

Dr. Whitney White, associate professor of pharmacy practice at the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of pharmacy practice.

After receiving her B.S. in biology magna cum laude from Mississippi College in 2003, White earned her Pharm.D. magna cum laude at the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in 2008. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, from 2008-09.

She joined the Samford University faculty in 2009 as an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and became on associate professor of pharmacy practice there in 2015. While at Samford University, White served as a clinical pharmacy specialist for the Anticoagulation Service and as faculty in the Medical Residency Program at St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine Center from 2009-11. She also served as an adult medicine residency preceptor for St. Vincent’s Health System from 2011-18 as part of her adult medicine practice at the hospital.

Recipient of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Affiliate President’s Award in 2017, White is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

The author or coauthor of 12 articles in peer-reviewed publications and 10 posters presented at national meetings, she has given 37 invited presentations, has served on numerous academic committees and has participated in multiple community service activities, including as a faculty preceptor for the Jackson Free Clinic. Her areas of research interest include rheumatology and anticoagulation management.