Thomas Rice

Thomas Rice is a Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management and Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds dual affiliations with the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the Luskin School of Public Affairs. His career includes leadership roles such as Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel (2006–2011), Interim Dean of Public Health (2012), and Chair of the Department of Health Services (1996–2000 and 2003–2004). Dr. Rice earned his Ph.D. in Economics from UC Berkeley (1982), alongside an M.A. in Economics and B.A. in Economics/Geography from UC Berkeley and UNC Chapel Hill, respectively.

His research focuses on healthcare financing equity, Medicare policy, and international health systems comparisons. Notable works include co-authoring The Economics of Health Reconsidered (2015) and leading a European Observatory report on the US healthcare system (2013). He has served as editor of Medical Care Research and Review (1994–2000) and holds National Academy of Medicine membership since 2006.

Dr. Rice’s scholarship emphasizes reducing healthcare financing regressive impacts, private equity’s role in healthcare markets, and improving decision-making in insurance marketplaces through behavioral economics principles. His recent work analyzes Japan’s aging population healthcare challenges and U.S. reforms under Biden’s presidency.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Economics, UC Berkeley (1982)
  • M.A. in Economics, UC Berkeley
  • B.A. in Economics & Geography, UNC Chapel Hill
• Awards:
  • 2006: Elected to National Academy of Medicine
  • 2005–2006: AcademyHealth Board Chair
  • AcademyHealth Article of the Year & Young Investigator Awards
• Advising & Grants: No specific grant details provided in text, but his leadership roles suggest extensive institutional funding involvement.

His interdisciplinary work bridges economics and public health, influencing policy debates on universal coverage, Medicare reforms, and health system equity. Dr. Rice collaborates with global institutions and has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications.