Dr. Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, focused on health workforce, primary care, and health professions and graduate medical education research and policy.  She has both national and global expertise.  Her research includes examination of the role of medical schools in addressing high priority workforce needs in primary care, underserved communities, and diversity; the role of graduate medical education in the cost practice patterns of physicians; and the status and challenges faced by medical schools in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Prior to rejoining the George Washington University, Dr. Chen was the Director of the Division of Medicine and Dentistry in the Bureau of Health Workforce at the Health Resources and Services Administration, where she led programs to enhance training in primary care, oral health, and geriatrics, including graduate medical education programs in children’s hospitals and Teaching Health Centers.  The Division's programs focused on addressing health workforce needs, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Dr. Chen is also a board certified pediatrician. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and her Masters of Public Health from the George Washington University with a concentration in Community Oriented Primary Care.