Dr. Chen was born and raised in the U.S. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. Following his transitional internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York, he completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute of the University of Southern California. He also completed a glaucoma fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami.
Dr. Chen began his career at UW Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 1996. He was appointed Chief of Ophthalmology at the UW Medical Center in 2001 and at Harborview Medical Center, including the UW Eye Institute, in 2009. He served as Residency Program Director from 2002-2004 and was acting chair in the Department of Ophthalmology for 3 years, from 2005-2008. He was promoted to Professor in 2008 and was named the Grace E. Hill Chair in Vision Research in 2012. He is an Associate Examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology and has served the American Academy of Ophthalmology in numerous capacities. Dr. Chen lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and children. His hobbies include hiking, running, gardening, and anything he can do with his family.