Teresa C. Rice, MD is a highly trained board‑certified abdominal transplant surgeon known for her work in robotic transplant techniques and living donor surgery.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Teresa C. Rice, MD |
| Profession | Transplant & General Surgeon |
| Specialty | Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Robotic Surgery |
| Institution | Massachusetts General Hospital & Brigham and Women’s Hospital |
| Education | Duke University (Undergraduate), Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine |
| Residency & Fellowship | University of Cincinnati; Washington University, Barnes‑Jewish Hospital |
Early Life and Education
Teresa C. Rice grew up with a strong interest in medicine and scientific inquiry, leading her to pursue a rigorous academic and clinical path. After completing her undergraduate studies at Duke University, she attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she earned her medical degree.
Following medical school, Dr. Rice completed her general surgery residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she developed foundational skills in surgical practice and patient care. Later, she undertook an advanced fellowship in multi-organ abdominal transplant and hepatobiliary surgery at Washington University, Barnes‑Jewish Hospital, which deepened her knowledge of liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation.
In addition to clinical training, Dr. Rice completed the Surgical Education Research Fellowship through the Association for Surgical Education, emphasizing her early commitment to both surgical excellence and educational advancement.
Professional Career and Roles
Dr. Teresa Rice is a board‑certified abdominal transplant surgeon, with a practice that spans complex organ transplantation and minimally invasive robotic surgery. She provides clinical care for patients with end-stage liver, kidney, and pancreas diseases, and has developed significant expertise in robotic donor nephrectomy, a procedure that uses robotic tools to remove a kidney from a living donor.
She is associated with top institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and the Mass General Brigham Transplant Center, where she treats adult and geriatric patients and works alongside multidisciplinary teams to provide state-of-the-art transplant care.
Her professional responsibilities include performing complex abdominal and transplant surgeries, innovating robotic surgical applications in transplantation, participating in national transplant quality improvement and training initiatives, and mentoring surgical trainees and fellows.
Expertise in Transplant and Robotic Surgery
Dr. Rice’s clinical expertise covers a wide range of transplant and surgical care, including liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant procedures, hepatobiliary surgery, and living donor transplantation techniques. She focuses on robotic approaches that may shorten recovery time and improve precision.
Her focus on integrating robotic surgery into transplant programs highlights an important trend in surgical innovation. Robotic platforms can improve precision, reduce operative trauma, and enhance recovery, particularly for living donors whose comfort and safety are critical.
Research, Publications, and Academic Contributions
Dr. Rice actively participates in clinical research and scholarly contributions. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, involving topics such as kidney transplant outcomes and surgical innovation.
This research demonstrates her ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based practices in transplant surgery. Her work may include clinical study protocols, evaluations of transplant immunology, and analyses of surgical techniques.
In addition, she has delivered lectures on surgical innovation and transplant care at national meetings, contributing to academic discourse and surgical education.
Impact on Patient Care
Dr. Rice’s expertise has meaningful real-world impact. Patient reviews often highlight her compassionate care, clear communication, and trust-building approach, especially in life-changing procedures like liver and kidney transplants.
Her clinical work emphasizes personalized treatment planning for transplant candidates, the use of advanced surgical techniques to minimize complications, and patient education with shared decision-making throughout care plans.
Professional Affiliations and Training Roles
Dr. Rice is an active member of national surgical societies, including the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, where she contributes to curriculum design and quality improvement efforts. These affiliations reflect peer recognition and leadership within her professional community.
Her involvement in training pathways helps prepare the next generation of surgeons to use advanced technology and deliver high-quality transplant care.
Recognitions and Career Growth
Though formal award listings are not widely published, Dr. Rice’s career trajectory, from strong academic foundations to leadership roles in transplantation at major medical centers, reflects recognition of her surgical skills, research contributions, and commitment to patient-centered care.
Her integration into top U.S. transplant programs and active role in educational advancement further highlight her professional reputation.
Skills and Professional Strengths
Dr. Rice’s profile exemplifies key surgeon competencies: clinical excellence in abdominal and transplant surgery, technical proficiency with robotic and minimally invasive procedures, research and scholarly activity supporting evidence-based practice, patient communication and empathetic care, and mentorship and training capabilities for surgical education.
Her balance of clinical work, research, and education underscores her influence as a trusted surgical expert.
Ongoing Updates and Future Directions
Dr. Rice continues to be involved in innovative transplant care and research advances. She monitors developments in robotic surgery, organ preservation technologies, and strategies to optimize surgical outcomes for diverse patient populations.
Her commitment to improving access to transplantation and expanding surgical training pathways positions her as a forward-looking practitioner in a rapidly evolving specialty.

