56 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2025
Visit msm.edu to find out more about Morehouse
School of Medicine's 50th Anniversary, and visit Dr.
Montgomery Rice's white doctor's coat on display at the
Tubman Museum in Macon.
because we recognize that health equity is defined
by giving people what they need when they need it,
and the amount they need to reach the optimal level
of health."
Maybe Montgomery Rice's boldness comes from
the affirmations spoken to her at a young age. "I've
never had imposter syndrome," she said. "I would
say to young people, don't embrace this imposter
syndrome. I've always believed that I had the right to
sit at the table."
Valerie Montgomery Rice has come a long way
from the little girl in Macon whose mother whispered
in her ear that she could do anything. But she's still
looking to the future, with eyes on transformation.
"You start to see justice when you remove all of
those structural barriers that have been put in place
that don't allow people to reach the optimal level of
health," she said.
"Morehouse School of Medicine will continue to
do that. You will see us grow." If Valerie Montgomery
Rice's record is any indication, that's a promise.
" Yo u a s k y o u r s e l f ,
w h a t ' s t h e
c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n
s o c i o e c o n o m i c
s t a t u s a n d h e a l t h ? I t
r e a l l y i s e d u c a t i o n ,
b e c a u s e a s p e o p l e
b e c o m e m o r e
e d u c a t e d , t h e y
a c t u a l l y i m p r o v e
t h e i r s o c i o e c o n o m i c
s t a t u s . T h e y h a v e
m o r e c h o i c e , t h e y
a r e m o r e i n f o r m e d ,
t h e y m a k e d i f f e r e n t
d e c i s i o n s t h a t l e a d
t o g o o d h e a l t h . "
