Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Allen M. Chen, MD, will join the UCI School of Medicine as chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology.  Dr. Chen currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Kansas (KU) Health System. He is also an associate director of KU’s NCI-designated Cancer Center and serves as director of the department’s residency training program.

Dr. Chen is board certified in radiation oncology by the American Board of Radiology. As an esteemed researcher and proven leader, he has received multiple honors and awards for research, leadership, patient care and teaching.  He has been named among the Best Doctors in America for more than 10 straight years and is in the process of concluding his two-year stint as president of the Association for Directors of Radiation Oncology Programs. 

In his new role, Dr. Chen will work with me to focus on the development of clinical, educational and research programs for the radiation oncology department, specifically in the areas of improving cancer care, developing new therapies for cancer patients through research, and educating the next generation of outstanding physicians and researchers. 

Dr. Chen is globally distinguished for research in head and neck cancers.  He has conducted several important prospective clinical trials, published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, and is an active thought leader in the American Society for Radiation Oncology, SWOG, NRG Oncology, and NCI.  He has a special interest in leadership development and serves on examination committees with both the American College of Radiology and the American Board of Radiology.  His position as chair of radiation oncology will be an integral part of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Chen earned his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and completed an internship in internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. He completed residency training in radiation oncology at the University of California, San Francisco and at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Prior to his tenure at KU, Dr. Chen served as professor and vice chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCLA.

Dr. Chen will relocate to Irvine from Kansas City, Missouri in late September and will assume his new position at UCI School of Medicine on Oct. 5, 2018. I want to thank Dr. Nilam S. Ramsinghani, who has served as chair of UCI’s Department of Radiation Oncology for many years and who will step down when Dr. Chen is on board.   Dr. Ramsinghani will remain on faculty as clinical professor. 

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Chen to UCI.