A man of high energy and compassion, Jeffrey Welch is perhaps the only Gables Great receiving this recognition after so few years in Coral Gables. For anyone who has had the opportunity to see this man in action, it is no wonder he has made an impact in so short a time.
Born in Toledo, OH, Jeff was one of 10 children. He grew up in Chicago and then, at 14, moved to New Jersey where he lived until coming to South Florida only six years ago. A graduate of Immaculata High School in Somerville, NJ, Welch earned a Bachelor of Science at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, in 1979, and then completed a master’s program in Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers University.
With more than 25 years of operational and financial leader ship in major academic medical centers and community health systems, Welch has been recognized for strengths in creating operational improvements.
One only has to visit Coral Gables Hospital to see how effective he is as the hospital’s CEO. It is no small wonder he has received national awards by J. D. Power, Healthgrades, Hospital Purchasing News, VHA and AHRMM as an innovative leader for operational effectiveness, quality and cost-saving supply chain programs.
Welch has a background like few others having been a head coach of the Old Bridge Basketball Association from 1999 to 2002; Mayor of the Borough of Califon, 1989-91; chair of the Planning Board, Borough of Califon, 1989-91; PALS (People with ALS) board member, 2006-07, and Field of Hope Gala Committee/MDA-ALS Committee member, 2003-04, and chair 2005-07.
Currently, Welch serves on the boards of directors of Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and the South Florida Hospital Association, and is a member of the Coral Gables Chamber.
Welch first became involved in volunteerism when his mother passed away after 10 years of living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease). With a strong desire to help out the victims and families dealing with this horrific disease, he became involved with an annual benefit gala for ALS research, and for three of five of those years he served as chair and cochair raising millions for research.
It also spun off a group called PALS, that raised money to help victims and patients with buying equipment for their needs, renovating their homes for handicapped access, and more.
A married man with three daughters, two biological and one adopted from Colombia, Jeff Welch has a smile to brighten any room, a good word for all, organizational and leadership skills in abundance, boundless enthusiasm for his work and for the people with whom he works, and a heart of gold.
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