This month we’re spotlighting Dr. Ashleigh Welko from Akron Children’s! Dr. Welko has played a crucial role in re-establishing the Medical Program at The Children’s Center.
Every child who comes to The Children’s Center for concerns about abuse is offered a head-to-toe checkup as part of our Child Advocacy Center services. For some children, this provides an opportunity to assess their overall health if they have not seen a doctor recently. For others, the reassurance of knowing that their body is safe and healthy can be an important step on their pathway to healing after experiencing abuse.
We are incredibly grateful to have Dr. Welko on our team and for the compassionate, specialized care she provides to the children and families we serve!
Roles and Responsibilities
How did you learn about The Children’s Center of Medina County? How did you first become involved with The Center?
I became involved with The Children’s Center when they began their collaboration with Akron Children’s.
What is your current role? What do you do in that role?
I am a pediatrician in the field of child abuse medicine. My practice involves conducting medical evaluations for children when any form of child maltreatment is suspected.
What are you most proud of in your work with The Children’s Center?
I am proud of working with The Children’s Center to allow more vulnerable kids to access the medical services they need. Knowing my involvement helped to enable that expansion of access is very rewarding.
Personal Insights and Reflections
What is the best advice you were ever given?
The author Malcolm Gladwell writes a lot about the sunk cost fallacy and society’s script of “never giving up,” saying that it’s sometimes okay to quit. Having grit is important, but in the midst of a failing project, investment, or relationship that you’ve tried hard fix, it’s better to ask “What will I gain if I let this go” rather than “what will I lose if I quit.” Having that growth mindset is critical to turning a failure into an opportunity.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a doctor/author/artist who wrote and illustrated my own medical textbooks. One of three isn’t bad!
What is one song you have completely memorized?
Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and as a history nerd I can probably tell you something about most of the events in the lyrics.
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Depending on the time of the year, you’ll find me watching a baseball game (Guardians or Rubber Ducks) or walking my dog — around the block, to the Square, or along one of the Metroparks trails.
Community Engagement and Support
What does the community need to know about The Children’s Center?
The whole team at The Children’s Center does incredible work to keep the children and families of Medina County safe and healthy. Even with medical services involved, no family seen at The Children’s Center ever sees a bill for maltreatment evaluations. That is only possible through community support. I am grateful that the people and businesses in Medina County recognize the value in the services that we provide.
