Dr. Jefferson W. Chen is a board-certified UCI Health neurosurgeon. who specializes in neurological trauma and critical care, normal pressure hydrocephalus, stroke and brain tumors.
He is a leader in such techniques as multimodal brain monitoring for traumatic brain injury and the use of BrainPath® technology to access deep-seated lesions.
Chen earned his medical degree and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., as part of the National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program. He completed residencies in general and neurological surgery at UC San Diego and a residency in pediatric neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. He received fellowship training in neurovascular and skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
His research interests include the study of the molecular mechanisms and biochemical underpinnings of traumatic brain injury and stroke, and the flow of fluids through the brain.
Services:
- Cancer Care
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Stroke Care
- Brain Tumor Program
- Skull Base Surgery
Clinical Interests:
brain tumors, normal pressure hydrocephalus, stroke and stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury
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Professional Positions
- Professor — Department of Neurological Surgery, UCI School of Medicine
- Vice-Chair — Clinical Affairs, Department of Neurological Surgery
- Director — Neurological Trauma, UCI Health Neurosurgery Services
- Fellow — American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Fellow — American College of Surgeons
- Fellow — American College of Critical Care Medicine
- Member — National Hydrocephalus Foundation Medical Advisory Board
- Member — American Heart Association, Stroke Council
- Member — Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Member — International NeuroTrauma Society
- Member — NeuroCritical Care Society
- Member — Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Member — California Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Member — Western Neurosurgical Society
- Member — American Medical Association
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Gender
Male -
Awards
- Physicians of Excellence, Orange County Medical Association — 2020-2024
- Best Doctors in America® — Neurological Surgery, 2007, 2010-2013, 2015, 2016
- ARIISE Award for Innovation — UCI Health, 2017
- First place poster award, Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care, 2017 — American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Medical Scientist Training Program Award — National Institutes of Health, 1981-1987
- Minoru and Ethel Tsutsui Distinguished Graduate Research Award, 1986 — New York Academy of Sciences
- Roche Laboratories' Award in Basic Sciences, 1985 — National Student Research Forum
- Bayer/Miles Award in Basic Research, 1985 — Eastern Student Research Forum
- Boehringer-Ingelheim Centennial Research Award, 1985
- Tau Beta Pi Fellow, 1981-82
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Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery -
Residencies
- UC San Diego Medical Center
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Languages Spoken
English
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Education
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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Academic Profile
View this surgeon's academic profile