Peter C. Chen, MD

Biography

Dr. Peter Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He received his BS in Biology from the Honors Program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and then received his MD from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.  Dr. Chen completed his General Surgery residency training at the University of Rochester.  During residency, he completed a 2 year research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School focused on the development of tissue engineered heart valves and clinical outcomes after congenital heart surgery.  After residency, he completed his Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at the Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine, and subsequently his Congenital Cardiac Surgery fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Dr. Chen has served in national leadership roles, as President of the Thoracic Surgery Resident’s Association (TSRA), and on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Health Policy and Relationships Council Operating Board.  Dr. Chen is Board Certified in Thoracic Surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Chen’s clinical interests include complex neonatal heart disease, single ventricle palliation, pediatric and adult congenital heart disease, pediatric heart failure, and minimally invasive approaches to congenital heart surgery.  His research interests include tissue engineered heart valves, regenerative medicine, cerebral and myocardial protection, surgical outcomes after congenital heart surgery, and the development of innovative surgical techniques.  Dr. Chen remains actively involved in medical student and resident mentorship, and the continued improvement of surgical education.