Chen is a professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, surgeon-in-chief for the UAB Hospital and Health System, senior advisor to the O’Neal Cancer Center, and senior associate dean for Academic Affairs in the Heersink School of Medicine. A pioneer in radio-guided parathyroid surgery, Chen’s lab has been continuously funded for over 19 years and studies the role of Notch signaling in thyroid and neuroendocrine cancers. He has also been recognized for his passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of surgical leaders.