Dr. William Rich is the medical director of health policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology where he oversees health policy for the oldest American medical specialty society.  He is responsible for national regulatory and legislative initiatives.

Dr. Rich has had a twenty-five year involvement in health policy, managed care and practice management in addition to consulting with the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He has served on RWJ panels dealing with the Future Of Fee For Service Medicare, Economic Incentives For Promoting Quality, and Health Outcomes Measures As A Determinant Of Patient Choice.  He has served as a founder and executive committeeman for a local IPA and the nation's largest national subspecialty PPO. He has briefed Congressional policy makers on financing Medicare and Stark safe harbor regulations.

Dr. Rich has been a visiting professor at numerous university programs and specialty meetings. Dr. Rich is chairman of the AMA RBRVS (RUC) Committee that determines the work values for all physician services.  Previously he represented the American Academy of Ophthalmology for ten years and chaired the Resource Subcommittee which investigates new ethnographic and quantitative approaches to physician work.

Civic responsibilities include Chairman of the United Way, the Board of Governors of Georgetown University, President of the Hoya Hoop Club, past president of the Fairfax County Medical Society and past Executive Committeeman of the Northern Virginia Health Systems Agency. American Academy of Ophthalmology activities include manpower studies in the 1970's, the initial founding chair of the Practice Management Division, lecturer in health policy, practice management and reimbursement at the AAO annual meeting.