Early life and education
Montgomery Rice is from Georgia. She completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry fromCareer
Prior to her joining Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Montgomery Rice held numerous leadership and faculty positions at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, becoming the catalyst of the institution's recognition for its high enrollment of minority women. While at Meharry Medical College, Dr. Montgomery Rice founded and directed The Center for Women’s Health Research. Being one of the first of its kind, The Center for Women's Health Research has a central focus on the impact of diseases for women of color, which aligns with Dr. Montgomery Rice's passion. Montgomery Rice served as professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, then dean and senior vice president, at Meharry Medical College. In 2011, She started at the Morehouse School of Medicine as the dean and Executive Vice President. In 2014, she became the president, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her clinical and research interests are in reproductive medicine, ovarian cancer and menopause. She has a record of research funding and publication. Montgomery Rice serves multiple professional organizations, including serving as chair of the American Medical Association’s OB/GYN Section. She holds multiple teaching and research awards and is recognized for her professional and community service, notably for support of minority and professional women. Noticing a disparity between the maternal mortality rates in women, African American women in particular, her research in the topic of infertility was combined with her passion of providing better quality care for minority women. Her activities also reflect her interests in women’s health issues, minority health care and health disparities.Awards and honors
Her research on the topic of infertility and maternal mortality rates awarded her membership of the Honor Roll of Outstanding Black Physician. This award is granted to black physicians and scientists who are deemed visionaries. The professionals who receive this honor are those who have overcome great adversity in the name of scientific advancement and social justice in their aid to individuals of color and needy and vulnerable individuals. Because of her dedication and passion to women's reproductive health with an emphasis on minority reproductive research, Dr. Montgomery Rice has been awarded multifaceted awards throughout her career including awards from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and Office of Research on Women’s Health/National Institutes of Health (NIH) advisory councils (2013-); Society for Women’s Health Research board (2012-) and the executive committee (2013); March of Dimes board (2012-); Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Deans Administrative board (2012-); FDA Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs (2011-); American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, board examiner (2007-); Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2006-); President’s Commission on White House Fellowships Regional Panelist Selection Committee (2010); Every Life Matters, Every Dollar Counts Campaign chair, National AIDS Fund board of trustees (2009-2010); National Aids Fund board of trustees (2007-2011), Wal-Mart Healthcare Insights Panel chair (2007-2010); and Wal-Mart External Advisory Board (2006-2008). Montgomery Rice was presented an honorary degree from University of Massachusetts Medical School. She was elected to membership in the National Academy of Medicine in 2016.Personal life
While attending her undergraduate studies at Georgia Institute of Technology, she met her now husband, Melvin Rice in the student section. Melvin Rice was selling concert tickets to a concert Montgomery Rice wished to attend that weekend, while also organizing the National Society of Black Engineers Conference. The two arranged a trade: concert tickets that Melvin had, for his entry into the conference Montgomery Rice was planning. Montgomery Rice is married to Melvin Rice Jr. They have a son and daughter.See also
* List of women presidents or chancellors of co-ed colleges and universitiesReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rice, Valerie Montgomery Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Scientists from Georgia (U.S. state) Physicians from Georgia (U.S. state) 21st-century American physicians 20th-century American physicians 20th-century American women scientists 21st-century American women scientists 21st-century African-American physicians 20th-century African-American physicians African-American women physicians Members of the National Academy of Medicine 20th-century American women physicians 21st-century American women physicians 20th-century American scientists 21st-century American scientists American obstetricians American gynecologists Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Morehouse College faculty Harvard Medical School alumni Women gynaecologists Women heads of universities and colleges African-American women academic administrators African-American academic administrators 20th-century African-American women 21st-century African-American women