Why He Was Nominated:

Collaborating with several departments at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Dr. Chen works with a craniofacial team to fabricate nasoalveolar molding appliances for children with cleft lip and palate. He’s also deputy director for a 13-chair nonprofit clinic for underserved patients. Most recently, he partnered with the CHOC orthopedics and pediatric endocrinology team to create dental support for the new Osteogenesis Imperfecta Clinic.

Exciting New Trend:

“A shift toward noninvasive procedures for high-anxiety children, use of dental lasers in pediatric dentistry and sleep-disordered breathing from tethered oral tissues.”

Something People Don’t Know:

“I’m ambidextrous. I am typically left-hand dominant, but I do dentistry right-handed.”