Valerie Montgomery Rice facts for kids

Valerie Montgomery Rice is an American doctor who specializes in women's health. She is also a leader in education. Dr. Montgomery Rice is currently the president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine. This is a special school where people learn to become doctors and health professionals.

Early Life and Education

Valerie Montgomery Rice grew up in Georgia. She went to the Georgia Institute of Technology for her first college degree. There, she studied chemistry. In 1987, she earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. This is one of the top medical schools in the world.

At first, she thought she would become a brain surgeon. But during her training, she spent time learning about women's health. This part of her training, called obstetrics-gynecology, changed her mind. She realized this was the field she truly wanted to be in.

She also did more advanced training at Emory University. This training focused on obstetrics and gynecology. Later, she completed a special program at Drexel University College of Medicine. This program helped her learn how to be a leader in academic medicine. She also did a fellowship at Hutzel Women's Hospital. This focused on hormones and fertility.

Her Career Journey

Before joining Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Montgomery Rice held important roles. She worked at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. There, she helped more minority women get into medical school.

Later, she moved to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. At Meharry, she started a special center. It was called The Center for Women's Health Research. This center was one of the first of its kind. It focused on how diseases affect women of color. This work was very important to Dr. Montgomery Rice.

She became a professor and leader in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Then, she became the dean and senior vice president at Meharry. In 2011, she joined the Morehouse School of Medicine. She started as the dean and Executive Vice President. By 2014, she became the president of the school. She was the first woman ever to hold this important position.

Dr. Montgomery Rice is very interested in women's health. She studies topics like reproductive medicine and ovarian cancer. She also researches menopause. She has received funding for her research and published many papers. She is part of many professional groups, including leading the OB/GYN Section of the American Medical Association. She has won awards for her teaching and research. She is also recognized for helping minority women and professional women.

She noticed that many African American women faced higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. This is called maternal mortality. Her research on infertility and her passion for helping minority women led her to work on improving healthcare for them. Her work shows her dedication to women's health and reducing health differences for all people.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Montgomery Rice has received many awards for her work. Her research on infertility and maternal mortality rates earned her a spot on the Honor Roll of Outstanding Black Physicians. This award celebrates Black doctors and scientists. It honors those who have overcome challenges to advance science and social justice. They help people of color and those in need.

Because of her strong dedication to women's reproductive health, she has received many honors. These include awards from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. She also served on important advisory councils for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2016. This is a very high honor for health professionals. She also received an honorary degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Personal Life

Valerie Montgomery Rice met her husband, Melvin Rice Jr., while they were both students. They met at the Georgia Institute of Technology. They got married and have two children, a son and a daughter.

See also

• List of women presidents or chancellors of co-ed colleges and universities