Internal Medicine & Hospital Administration

Biography

Dr. Chen received his graduate education at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. While there he started his research on gastrointestinal motility with a group of internationally renowned investigators in the Department of Medicine. Upon completing his PhD in 1989, Dr. Chen moved to the United State where he accepted a faculty position at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine. In 1995, Dr. Chen moved to Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma, where he established an Electrophysiology Laboratory and worked intensively on electrophysiology of the gut and gastrointestinal pacing. In June 1999, he joined the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB and is currently a Professor of Medicine. Dr. Chen served as the first President of the International Electrogastrography Society, has given over 180 invited lectures in various countries, served on committees of national and international conferences, published one book, over 310 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and over 400 conference papers and abstracts. His research has been supported by over 100 grants from the federal government, state, private foundations and industries. Dr. Chen has filed or awarded more than 20 patent applications. Dr. Chen is a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and a member of various professional societies in medicine and biomedical engineering. Dr. Chen serves as a council member of American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and a Board Member of North American Neurodumulation Society.

Research Interest

Dr. Chen research interest include physiology and pathophysiology of gastrointestinal motility as well as obesity and diabetes. Specific research topics include clinical gastrointestinal motility studies and electrical therapies (gastrointestinal electrical stimulation, spinal cord stimulation and vagal nerve stimulation) for functional gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and diabetes.