Rikki Welch

Overview

Rikki Welch is a Principal Research Associate for Public Health. She has over 20 years of experience in research and communications on domestic and international topics, particularly those related to health. She is a skilled qualitative researcher with experience in designing, implementing, and analyzing formative and evaluative research, cognitive testing, and usability studies. She has worked with clients such as CMS’s Innovation Center, the PCORI, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, (FNS) ED, HRSA, and AHRQ.

Welch has led evaluation work for CMS’s Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model and the Integrated Care for Kids, a child-centered local service delivery and state payment model that aims to reduce expenditures and improve the quality of care for children under 21 covered by Medicaid. For the evaluation of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Autism CARES portfolio, she manages the State Innovations in Care program and the State Public Health Coordinating Center for Autism. She also conducts interviews and focus groups.

Education

• MA, International Communications, American University
• BS, International Studies, Union College