SR 871: Rice, Dr. Valerie Montgomery; recognize

Senate Resolution 871

By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Mangham of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Orrock of the 36th and Davenport of the 17th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Morehouse School of Medicine, for her historic leadership, distinguished career in medicine and research, and extraordinary contributions to advancing health equity; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, a Georgia native, serves as the sixth President and Chief Executive Officer of the Morehouse School of Medicine and is the first woman in history to lead the freestanding medical institution, bringing to her role a unique combination of excellence in patient care, medical research, organizational management, and public health policy; and

WHEREAS, she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine and her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Hutzel Hospital, later receiving honorary degrees from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Rush University; and

WHEREAS, a renowned infertility specialist and researcher, Dr. Montgomery Rice previously served as Dean and Executive Vice President of the Morehouse School of Medicine beginning in 2011, and she has demonstrated transformational leadership by redesigning complex institutional infrastructures to meet evolving strategic environments and position organizations for sustainable success; and

WHEREAS, prior to her tenure at the Morehouse School of Medicine, she held faculty and senior leadership positions at leading academic health centers, most notably serving as the founding director of the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry Medical College, one of the nation's first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately impact women of color; and

WHEREAS, she is a passionate advocate for health equity, expanding pipeline opportunities for academically diverse learners, diversifying the physician and scientific workforce, and advancing equitable access to quality health care and improved health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Montgomery Rice has extended her leadership through service on numerous national and corporate boards and advisory bodies, including her appointment to The President's Committee on the National Medal of Science, service on the Georgia Commission on Women, and membership in the National Academy of Medicine; and

WHEREAS, her leadership and impact have been recognized through numerous prestigious honors, including the National Medical Association Scroll of Merit Award, recognition on STAT's STATUS List of influential leaders in health and science, the Horatio Alger Award, repeated recognition as one of Georgia Trend Magazine's "100 Most Influential Georgians," the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, and many other national and statewide distinctions; and

WHEREAS, she remains committed to faith, family, and community, sharing her life with her husband, Melvin Rice Jr., and their two children.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice for her groundbreaking leadership at the Morehouse School of Medicine and her enduring contributions to medicine, medical education, research, and the advancement of health equity in Georgia and across the nation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice.