Who is William Henry Welch from the nonfiction book, The Great Influenza?

William Henry Welch is noted by Barry to be one of the most influential men in the history of American medicine. Even though Welch did not want to work as a doctor, he decided when he began his apprenticeship that he wanted to be a different kind of doctor than those practicing in the United States. For this reason, he studied science and pathology. He also went overseas to Europe to learn the advanced techniques used there and brought his new knowledge back to America with him.

Welch was the first dean at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He helped hire the teachers for that school. Welch additionally helped with the organization of the Rockefeller Institute.

Welch contracted the flu when he and other scientists visited Camp Deven to see for themselves how terrible the disease was. Because he was aware of the conditions in hospitals, he did not go to the hospital, but instead recuperated at home in bed for ten days. As soon as he was well enough to travel, he went to Atlantic City to continue to recuperate. His sickness kept him from taking an active role in finding a cure or vaccine for the flu.