Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D., renowned infertility specialist and researcher, assumed the position of Dean and Executive Vice President for Morehouse School of Medicine, effective June 27, 2011. Her primary responsibilities include overseeing the academic enterprise and guiding the continued advancement of MSM’s patient care, research, community health, and education and training programs.

Prior to joining MSM, Dr. Montgomery Rice was the Director of the Center for Women’s Health Research and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, at Meharry Medical College, Nashville TN. During her tenure at Meharry, Dr. Montgomery Rice held several positions, most notably, Dean of the School of Medicine and Senior Vice President of Health Affairs. Under her leadership, Meharry experienced many significant achievements; most notably, an increase in the medical class size, a robust increase in annual research funding and national prominence, and the expansion of the Veterans Administration affiliation by establishing the first outpatient clinic for veterans care on a historically black college campus.

Dr. Montgomery Rice is credited with founding the Center for Women’s Health Research, one of the nation’s first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately impact women of color. In addition, she spearheaded the research partnership with the University of Zambia, which focuses on the development of a vaginal microbicide for the prevention of HIV.

Dr. Montgomery Rice held numerous positions at the University of Kansas School of Medicine prior to joining Meharry Medical College; including Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Vice Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Director, Clinical Trials Division, Clinical Research.

Montgomery Rice currently serves on the FDA Advisory Panel for Reproductive and Urological Drugs. She is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades including most recently, the 2011 American Medical Women’s Association Elizabeth Blackwell Award, one of the highest honors for contributions to women’s health.

A Georgia native, Dr. Montgomery Rice received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Harvard University Medical School. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine and her fellowship in reproductive endocrinologist and infertility at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She also completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A prolific speaker and advocate of women’s health, Dr. Montgomery Rice has given more than 500 talks and participated in workshops and conferences throughout the world. Her acumen and the many contributions she has made as a professional in women’s health and research have earned her national and international recognition, particularly, through her unwavering commitment to eliminating disparities in women’s healthcare.


Video:
 - Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice Keynote