About RHRF
Nearly 50 years of advancing esophageal research
The Ryan Hill Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1976 by Dr. Lucius D. Hill, a Seattle thoracic and vascular surgeon who dedicated his career to developing surgical techniques that improved the lives of patients with heartburn, GERD, and esophageal cancer.
Mission Statement
The Ryan Hill Research Foundation (RHRF) is dedicated to enhancing human health and social welfare through innovations in immunology and the prevention and treatment of cancer and other diseases. Since 1976, the Foundation has been at the forefront of research into diseases and surgical treatments of the esophagus, establishing a global reputation for producing peer-reviewed international literature.
The vision of our founder, Dr. Lucius Hill, to create a vehicle for doctors to conduct scientific research free from institutional, governmental, and corporate control continues to be a cardinal tenet of the Foundation.
The RHRF funds basic science and clinical research opportunities for postgraduate doctors, fostering the education and career development of young researchers through mentorship.
A Landmark Contribution to Medicine
Foundation-sponsored researchers, working alongside Dr. Hill, identified the existence of the gastroesophageal flap valve — a discovery now documented in both Dorland's Medical Dictionary and Gray's Anatomy.
They developed a grading system for gastroesophageal flap valve competence that is widely accepted and used by gastroenterologists worldwide.