Heather Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS One of NMQF's 40 Under 40
Dr. Rice honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health
[[{"fid":"52470","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority "},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority "}},"attributes":{"alt":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","title":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","height":1000,"width":750,"style":"height: 467px; width: 350px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]] was honored by the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) as during the 2023 NMQF Summit on Health Disparities and Spring Health Braintrust. The award ceremony, which coincides with , was held in Washington, DC April 17 - 18.
鈥淚t was a very exciting and rewarding experience,鈥 Dr. Rice said in a recent interview. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of the honor. The health summit brought together health professionals across many disciplines for two days, all with a focus on minority health disparities. Outside of the award, it was energizing to have so many people in one place with vested interests in the work we鈥檙e all doing for minority health.鈥
Since 2016, NMQF has selected 40 health leaders from minoritized populations under the age of 40 who have been leading the charge to better patient outcomes and build sustainable healthy communities.
These leaders are clinicians, patient advocates, researchers, and policymakers who have persevered in strengthening their communities and reducing health disparities amid ongoing challenges within the healthcare system.
Dr. Rice has been active in steering the regional Survive and Thrive initiative and with 鈥 a local nonprofit founded in 2014 expressly to reduce Black infant and maternal deaths. She acknowledged that wide-ranging support 鈥渁llows me to do what I love and live in my purpose.鈥
鈥淲ith my background as a pediatric nurse practitioner, I am passionate about how research can impact the work being done around infant and maternal mortality,鈥 Dr. Rice said when the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE)鈥檚 Third Frontier .
She added that both Survive and Thrive and Birthing Beautiful Communities are so much more.
[[{"fid":"52553","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority "},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority "}},"attributes":{"alt":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","title":"Heather Marie Rice, Ph.D., APRN-CNP, PMHS honored as one of NMQF's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority ","height":4032,"width":3024,"style":"height: 467px; width: 350px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]鈥淏eing able to coalesce social and clinical data with our team and in the community to uplift and support mothers and families is a personal mission,鈥 Dr. Rice said.
The two-day summit 鈥減ut an emphasis on policy, lobbying, and legislation,鈥 as well as more relational ways to protect patients. Maternal health was one of the major focus areas, Dr. Rice said.
鈥淚t also offered all kinds of unique perspectives to consider, including research on doulas and midwives,鈥 she added. 鈥淏ut the biggest connections made were to the NMFQ network of resources and mentorship鈥攁s well as larger, data-driven ideas and statistics that Ohio doesn鈥檛 collect.鈥
To hear her tell it, the NMQF Summit was an opportunity to take a breath before getting back into an upcoming, six-month stretch that includes 鈥渨ork on upcoming and grants, publications, research studies and continuing to educate on maternal and infant health,鈥 Dr. Rice said.
鈥淭hese leaders exemplify our vision of 鈥楻eimagining Our Healthcare to Protect the Most Vulnerable鈥 and are making incredible strides in health equity,鈥 said Dr. Gary Puckrein, President and Chief Executive Officer at the National Minority Quality Forum in reference to Dr. Rice and the 39 other award winners.
鈥淲e recognize the dedication and passion displayed by these young leaders because we know that they will work to improve the health outcomes of everyone served by our healthcare system.鈥