Dr. Michelle Welch
Board Certified Dermatologist by the American Academy of Dermatology
Dr. Welch has quite a diverse background.
Dr. Michelle Welch was born and raised in Wabash, IN. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986 immediately upon graduating from high school as a private and was a combat medic which allowed her to earn a scholarship to attend college.
Upon entering college at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, she was honored with a cross country and track scholarship and was named captain of the women’s team. She completed her undergraduate studies in just three years and was then accepted to the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University on a full-ride HPSP military scholarship.
After completing a categorical internship in internal medicine at Kansas University in Kansas City, KS, Dr. Welch was called to active duty army as a General Medical Officer stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah Georgia and Fort Campbell, KY. She was then accepted to the prestigious dermatology residency program at The National Capital Consortium stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC where she received intense, rigorous training in dermatology from an amazing group of talented and decorated military and civilian dermatologists from the Army, Navy and National Institute of Health dermatology programs.
Dr. Welch was serving as the chief resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on September 11, 2001…a day that she will never forget along with the rest of the world. Dr. Welch’s passion for the military and the training of future dermatologists was intensified that dreadful day the nation was attacked. She was honored to be assigned to Walter Reed as a professor of dermatology upon completion of her residency and successful board certification.
Dr. Welch attained the rank of major and was honored during a promotion ceremony that was held in the Eishenhour suite at the original Walter Reed Hospital surrounding by her children, collegues, clinic staff, friends and patients. As the time drew near to transfer to the next duty station, Dr. Welch requested Fort Jackson, SC as she had visited Lake Murray many times with her family and loved South Carolina. After serving as the chief of the dermatology department at Fort Jackson , Dr. Welch knew South Carolina was her new home.
Dr. Welch transitioned from the army to private practice and opened Dermatology of Lexington, LLC in 2006. Dr. Welch comments regularly on how blessed she and her family have been by the gracious people of Lexington and the surrounding communities. Dr. Welch is the proud mother of two academically talented and athletic children, Matthew and Abby. Dr Welch is also active in the local community with various volunteer organizations, her wonderful church family at Mount Horeb Unitied Methodist Church, the free skin cancer screenings, mentoring and teaching USC medical students and physician assistant students and donates time and services to local school events and charities.
Dr. Welch has recently acquired the Elante Medical Day Spa and Salon which brings her rigorous dermatology training to full circle with the complete medical dermatology and cosmetic skin care practice. Dr. Welch is a medical and esthetic trained dermatologist certified in treating all areas of health and beauty of the skin. Dr. Welch offers the latest technology and the most effective skin care products and services to deliver the best results.
In fact, Dr. Welch was voted the BEST dermatologist by the people of Lexington and with this amazing success and phenomenal growth of her practice, Dr. Welch has opened a beautiful new facility to expand the services we are able to offer. The Elante Day Spa and Salon was also voted the BEST day spa and salon by the people of Lexington. Dr. Welch feels blessed and honored to serve our community and will continue to strive for excellence to provide the highest quality of care.
Jonathan D. Gardner
Laser Specialist
Jonathan is a trained laser specialist who performs all of our laser procedures for Elante Cosmetic Medical. He has over ten years of clinical experience in the medical laser field. In addition to his relationship with Elante Cosmetic Medical, Jonathan also works for Southern Medical Lasers, a company that has been providing the most prominent plastic surgeons and dermatologists in the Southeast with state-of-the-art cosmetic laser systems since 1998.
Jonathan has trained some of the brightest minds in the aesthetic medical community and is highly respected for his laser-based knowledge and clinical experience.Jonathan is an expert in the removal of professional and home-made tattoos, and he has successfully performed over a thousand laser treatments throughout his career.Jonathan specializes in the following laser treatments: tattoo removal, reduction of hair-growth, facial rejuvenation, vascular and pigmented lesions/birthmarks, and ablative/non-ablative facial procedures. Jonathan is a Columbia native who graduated from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in 1994, and he earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Elon University in 1998. When not seeing patients, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife Danyele, and two sons, Jon David and Jonah Dylan.
