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Neal Chen
Chief Hand and Upper Extremity Service
Neal Chen is a prominent orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery. He currently serves as the Chief of Hand Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and holds the position of Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.12
Education and Training
Dr. Chen received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Stanford University and his medical degree (MD) from Yale University School of Medicine.12 He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery through the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, followed by fellowships in:
- Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery12
Career Progression
After his training, Dr. Chen's career path included:
- Clinical Instructor at the University of Michigan Health System (2008-2010)
- Assistant Professor at Philadelphia Hand Center (2010-2014)
- Chief of Hand Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital (2014-present)2
Clinical Expertise
Dr. Chen's clinical practice encompasses complex problems of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. He performs various procedures, including:
- Shoulder and elbow replacements
- Tendon transfers
- Arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist
- Repair of malaligned or unhealed fractures13
Research and Achievements
Dr. Chen has received notable recognition for his research, including:
- A prestigious Basic Science Grant from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand/American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand
- Research sponsorship from the AO Foundation for the study of shoulder fractures13
His research interests include advanced wrist and elbow arthroscopy, arthroscopic-assisted fracture repair, and improving treatments for complex upper extremity fractures.3
Throughout his career, Dr. Chen has also served as a team physician and consultant for various sports organizations, including the New York Mets, University of Michigan Athletics, USA Hockey, and Eastern Michigan University.12
