Presenter

Lee Rice

CEO, Lifewellness Institute

Dr. Lee Rice is an internationally known authority in sports medicine, wellness and preventative medicine. In 1980 he founded the San Diego Sports Medicine and Family Health Center, where he founded one of the first primary care sports medicine fellowship programs in the country. In 2002, Dr. Rice founded the Lifewellness Institute, specializing in health risk evaluation, wellness and health promotion. Two innovative programs, Project L.I.F.E. (Lifestyle Interventions for Executives) and Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) helped the Lifewellness Institute win the national 2004 AstraZeneca Healthy Heart Award in recognition of initiating a “dramatic improvement in the health care environment focusing on the global fight against coronary heart disease”. Dr. Rice was the recipient of the 2005 San Diego Chamber of Commerce award for the most innovative business design for the Chief Wellness Officer program. He is a board certified physician in Family Practice with a CAQ in Sports Medicine and in Integrative and Holistic Medicine. In 2013 he was named as the Medical Director for the Rancho La Puerta Executive Health Program and as the Chief Wellness Officer for the La Costa Resort Premier Fitness Camp.Dr. Rice has been an associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, and clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences. In July 2009 he was honored as the recipient of the Dr. Jerry C. Lee Endowed Chair at National University, with the responsibility of furthering the aims of the Center for Integrative Health.He has authored numerous texts and medical journal articles in the areas of wellness and sports medicine and lectures on these topics regularly to medical schools, medical conventions and the business community in the United States and abroad. He is a co-founder and past president of the first organization of primary care sports medicine specialists in the United States, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Rice is a founder, past president and Fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. In 1993, he was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee to the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, chaired by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has served on both the National Federation of High Schools and the California Interscholastic Federation Sports Medicine Committees.Dr. Rice has been team physician for many professional, Olympic and University teams including the San Diego Chargers (NFL), San Diego Clippers (NBA), San Diego Gulls (ECHL), San Diego Soccers (MISL), San Diego Spirit (WUSA) and San Diego State University. He was a volunteer venue physician for the Summer Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles and has served as head team physician for the Men’s and Women’s USA National Volleyball Teams. He has been medical director and team physician for four America’s Cup sailing regattas, most recently for Oracle BMW Racing during the campaign in Auckland, New Zealand.In 2011, the Father’s Day Council and the American Diabetes Association identified Dr. Rice as one who balances his personal life, serves as a role model for his children and makes a positive difference in the community by honoring him with a “Father of the Year” Award. Dr. Rice’s community activities include serving as Chairman for San Diego Senior Olympics, medical director of the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, past board member of the San Diego and Point Loma YMCAs and serving as a facilitator for groups building homes for the poor in Mexico with Youth with a Mission. From 1989-1999, he was a volunteer 6th grade health and wellness teacher at Warren Walker School in Pt. Loma. He was a founding member of WE CARE, a San Diego High School student and parent educational consortium. He has also been a Volunteer at the annual Children’s Hospital Celebration of Champions. In 2009, he was the medical organizer for a medical mission to Nepal. Currently, he serves on National University’s Board of Trustees, as well as a board member for the American Heart Association. Dr. Rice has recently accepted an Advisory Board position with Golden Door Spa and Fitness Resort in San Marcos, CA.Dr. Rice was one of the founding members of the California Coastal Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He served as Chairman in 1991 and was voted Member of the Year in 1992. He also served as Chapter Forum Officer. Presently, he is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and Chief Executives’ Organization (CEO). He is a top rated resource for those organizations and often speaks at International Universities, Area Conferences and Chapter Meetings. Lee and Mary Rice also facilitate Forum development and growth for YPO and WPO Chapters. Recent awards have included the 2013 Medical Champion Award from the San Diego Sports Medicine Foundation, the 2000-2001 University of San Diego High School Outstanding Volunteer Award, The American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Service Award, the American Academy of Family Physicians Sports Medicine Teaching Award, and both the Jonathan Reeser Sports Science Award and the James E. Coleman National Team Award from USA Volleyball.Lee and Mary, his wife and life partner of 44 years, live in San Diego. They have two adult daughters, Kelly and Katie.  

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