Ann Madden Rice, a health-care executive with a strong track record in hospital operations and financial management, will take over the helm as chief executive officer at UC Davis Medical Center, UC Davis Vice Chancellor Claire Pomeroy announced Wednesday.

Rice, chief operating officer at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, was selected for the UC Davis position after an extensive nationwide search. As CEO, she will oversee UC Davis Medical Center's 577-bed, acute-care hospital and its affiliated outpatient centers, including a primary care network of physician practices in 10 Northern California communities. With a cancer center, comprehensive children's hospital, and level-I adult and pediatric trauma centers, UC Davis is the leading referral center in a region covering 33 counties, more than 65,000 square miles and 6 million residents.

"Ms. Rice has compiled an impressive record of leadership in academic medicine and hospital management," said Pomeroy, vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. "She is known for her ability to collaborate with a wide array of individuals and organizations, building relationships that enhance the well-being of institutions and communities. Her broad experience will serve us well as we meet the growing health-care needs of Northern California and beyond."

Since 2002, Rice has been chief operating officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a tertiary academic medical center with annual net revenue of about $650 million, 7,480 employees, and 666 resident and fellow physicians and dentists, 750 staff physicians and dentists, 762 beds and more than 850,000 outpatient visits annually.

"Ms. Rice is a highly regarded leader with an extraordinary commitment to community service as well as to academic and clinical medicine," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "Her understanding of the financial and operational challenges faced by academic medical centers, coupled with her dedication to discovery, learning and engagement, make her a terrific fit for UC Davis Health System."

Rice was selected in a search process during which candidates were interviewed by a diverse group of more than 75 individuals representing the campus and medical center leadership as well as faculty, staff and the community.

"Because our medical center plays such an important role in this community, it was important to us that we include in the selection process a variety of perspectives — both internal and external to the university," said Virginia Hinshaw, provost and executive vice chancellor at UC Davis. "The result is that we've identified an exceptionally talented leader who will continue our long tradition of partnering with the community to improve the health and well-being of all."

"I was attracted to the UC Davis Health System by its vibrant vision to advance both the science and humanity of medicine. Everyone I met — including physicians, nurses, and community supporters — is optimistic about the future of the medical center and shares my personal commitment to providing excellent and compassionate health care," said Rice.

"I am delighted to be joining this community and continuing the mission of providing exceptional care in a state-of-the-art clinical setting and preparing tomorrow's generation of caregivers and scientists who will deliver even greater medical advances," she said.

Experience

Rice joined the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1999 as chief financial officer. She later served as interim chief executive officer and then as chief operating officer. In that role, she is responsible for a broad range of hospital operations, including the oversight of pharmacy, pathology, radiology, clinical cancer center, human resources, marketing and communications, hotel services, facilities services, materiel management and procurement, information systems, telecommunications, and rehabilitation.

Rice is a fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and a diplomat of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She also is an instructor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

From 1996-99, Rice was the vice president of finance and the chief financial officer at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, a 200-bed regional medical center owned by the city of Ames. From 1992-1996, Rice served as vice president of fiscal services for the Central Vermont Medical Center, a not-for-profit, 122-bed general hospital, a 153-bed long-term care facility and several primary care physician clinics.

From 1983-92, Rice was the director of accounting and controller for the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, a 500-bed teaching hospital.

Rice received her bachelor's degree in industrial administration in 1979 from Iowa State University and her master's degree in accounting in 1983 from the University of Iowa.

Rice will start her job at UC Davis Medical Center in October, with an annual base salary of $495,000. In keeping with UC policy, additional compensation will include a relocation allowance, automobile allowance, participation in the Clinical Enterprise Management Program and the Senior Management Supplemental Benefit Program, eligibility for a Mortgage Origination Program loan and participation in the Partners Opportunity Program for faculty spouse.

For additional details about Rice's total compensation package, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.