Emergency icon Important Updates
Department Pain Management
Primary Location South Pointe Hospital
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon No
Locations
South Pointe Hospital
Primary Location

South Pointe Hospital

Appointment:
216.491.6433
Desk:
216.692.7543
Fax:
216.491.4824

Additional Locations

Pain Management

Euclid Hospital

18901 Lakeshore Blvd
Euclid , OH 44119
Directions

Appointment:
216.692.7543
Desk:
216.692.7543
Fax:
216.692.7645
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Acupuncture
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Back Pain Treatment
  • Neck Pain Treatment
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Osteopathic Manipulation
  • Pain Control
  • Pain Management
  • Pain Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: How to Treat
View all 10 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Back Pain in Athletes
  • Chronic Back Pain
  • Chronic Neuropathic Pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Knee Injuries
  • Myofascial Pain Syndrome
  • Radiculopathy
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Spine Pain
  • Whiplash
View all 10 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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View All Plans
Biography

About William Welches, DO, PhD

I am an Osteopathic Physician with board certification in family practice medicine and have specialized expertise in osteopathic manipulation. I have a PhD in biochemistry and was a Research Scientist for a number of years before returning to medical school.

My area of specialty is pain management. I use osteopathic manipulation, along with several programs including diet therapy and counseling, to help patients with their pain. My techniques and programs are integrated with those of my colleagues in the Pain Management Department to provide patients with comprehensive treatment.

-- William Welches, DO, PhD

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2002

Education & Fellowships

Internship - University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine
Acupuncture
Los Angeles, CA USA
2010

Residency - South Pointe Hospital
Family Practice
Warrensville Heights, OH USA
2002

Internship - South Pointe Hospital
Family Practice
Warrensville Heights, OH USA
2000

Medical Education - Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Athens, OH USA
1999

Graduate School - University of Illinois Hospital at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL USA
1980

Undergraduate - Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO USA
1973

Additional Training

  • PhD, biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Certifications

  • Family Medicine

Specialty Interests

acupuncture, alternative medicine, back, Back Pain, back/neck pain, diet and nutrition, evaluation of back and neck pain, interventional pain management, interventional pain management for back and neck pain, Low Back Pain, management of chronic pain, neuropathic, neuropathic pain, osteopathic manipulation therapy, pain, pain management, pain management including spine, rehabilitation, spine, spine pain

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for William Welches, DO, PhD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 2/8/2023, Dr. Welches has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

110 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.7 out of 5
Explains 4.6
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.7
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.7

18 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2024

I always receive respect, clear communication and feel better after my appointments with Dr. Welches

Reviewed on Jan 11, 2024

My experience with Dr. Welches office and staff was very good, no complaints whatsoever, manipulation just didn't help my condition

Reviewed on Jan 10, 2024

I have consistently recommended Dr. Welches to other potential patients.

Reviewed on Dec 21, 2023

I love Dr. Welches and I recommend his services all the time.

Reviewed on Oct 12, 2023

Dr. Explained what he did through every step didn't feel any pain until later which he said I would, he didn't believe in medication and I wanna get off the medication

Reviewed on Oct 5, 2023

Dr. Welch's and team very pleasant experience

Reviewed on Oct 5, 2023

Dr. Was very professional

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023

Dr. Welches is one of a kind. I have not found any other doctor who provides the osteopathic manipulations he does, and I am completely reliant on my monthly visits to maintain the wellbeing of my back and alleviate pain. I already fear the day that he decides to retire because I do not know how I will manage without the treatments.

Reviewed on Jul 19, 2023

Dr. Welches is much in demand, hence the problem getting an appt.. On at least two occasions he helped me when another Dr. Could not .I have had one other person in the practice treat me when Dr Welches was away. There was no comparison to Dr Welches He examines the whole spine to determine the root of the problem.

Reviewed on Jul 18, 2023

He is a wonderful, caring physician.

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2023

The doctor and the aid were professional, and efficient and seemed very knowledgeable.

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2023

He is a great doctor, that being so it hard to get into his office

Reviewed on Jun 22, 2023

The doctor and his nursing assistant were a team, in every since.

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2023

I'm lucky to have a great doctor to help me keep pain away. I will follow his advice and keep up with my therapy exercises, etc.

Reviewed on Jun 6, 2023

Dr Welches is so knowledgeable and skilled in his OMT procedure and I have less pain when I am able to get to see him.

Reviewed on May 25, 2023

Dr. Welches is the best provider I've ever had in my lifetime. He is caring, thoughtful, remembers me as a patient, listens, and genuinely engages In conversation while providing exceptional medical treatment. Truly lives us to Cleveland Clinic's claim of providing world class care.

Reviewed on May 18, 2023

Dr. Welches continues to provide optimal and effective care, which has helped my sciatic nerve pain immensely. I recommend him to others.

Reviewed on May 18, 2023

Dr. Welches works wonders. He identifies the problems and fixes them. I'm so happy I got to see him.

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