Opening Pathways to Possibilities

NU 2024 Humanitarian Award

National University is pleased to name Dr. Lee Rice and his wife, Mary Rice, as the 2024 Humanitarians of the Year. The university’s distinguished honor recognizes the Rice family’s decades-long commitment to improving lives through education, wellness, and community service.

“Dr. Lee and Mary Rice embody the spirit of dedication and service that we celebrate at National University—and reflective of the community leaders and difference makers that we serve,” said Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president and CEO of National University. “Their lifelong commitment to wellness, education, and community service has created lasting positive change. The scope of Dr. Rice and Mary’s impact extends far beyond their professional achievements and will be felt for decades through their commitment to community values, service, and making a difference in the lives of those around them.”

Dr. Rice, who serves as vice chair of NU’s board of trustees, and Mary Rice have been fixtures in the Southern California healthcare sector since arriving in San Diego with the United States Navy Reserve Medical Corps in 1973 to begin his Family Medicine Residency.

His groundbreaking work in preventive medicine began during his clinical rotations with both exercise physiology at UCSD and the San Diego Chargers, which inspired him to integrate cutting edge injury prevention and proactive health management into his practice.

He founded the San Diego Sports Medicine and Family Health Center, pioneering a holistic approach to health that sees wellness as more than just the absence of disease – and later expanded this vision with the Lifewellness Institute, focusing not only on longevity, but also on enhancing the quality of life through personalized, patient-centered care.

His career includes serving as the head primary care team physician for numerous sports teams, including the San Diego Chargers and the USA Men’s and Women’s National and Olympc Volleyball teams, and holding teaching positions at prestigious institutions such as UC San Diego and Yale University Medical School. In 2024, he was the principle investigator for the “HUDDLE Study,” a groundbreaking medical research project focused on heart disease prevalence in African American NFL alumni. The study led to the “Huddle for Health” initiative, improving education, health screenings, and outcomes in underserved communities through a collaboration with NFL Alumni Health.

Mary Rice played a crucial role in these ventures, from supporting Dr. Rice through medical school, managing his first family practice office to shaping the culture and environment of their medical practice. She also balanced impressive professional accomplishments and family responsibilities with extensive community service, including Voices for Children, Children’s Home Society and Thursday Club, in addition to moderating a women’s YPO group, leading Girl Scout troops, and co-founding the We Care Organization to improve safety and learning environments in San Diego middle and high schools.