Antonia F. Chen, M.D., M.B.A., an orthopedic surgeon known for her studies on clinical outcomes after hip and knee replacements, is just a month into her role as the new Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and is already aiming for improvements in patient care, education, and research.
Dr. Chen joined UTSW September 1, 2024 as Chair and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, previously serving as Chief of Arthroplasty and Joint Reconstruction and Director of Research, Arthroplasty Services, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and as Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
“Dr. Chen’s stellar record and commitment to exceptional clinical care, collaborative research, and mentorship will elevate the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and position our institution as a national hub for clinical excellence and innovation in orthopedic surgery,” said W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School.
After completing undergraduate studies at Yale University, Dr. Chen went to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers Business School. During her first year of medical school, she decided to specialize in orthopedics when she observed the impact that arthroplasty had on patients. “Patients went from not walking to walking,” she said. “Seeing that was life-changing for me.”
Following her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Chen continued her postdoctoral training with a fellowship in hip and knee arthroplasty at the Rothman Institute.
Dr. Chen has published extensively on topics ranging from the complex microbiome of periprosthetic joint infections to the sociological determinants of surgical quality of care.
As the Department Chair, Dr. Chen has a plan to accelerate clinical work, focus on education for the next generation, and conduct research that will improve patients’ lives.
Some of the advances she sees happening in the coming decade in regard to orthopaedic surgery include improved outcomes and reduced risk of complications, such as infection. Infection prevention techniques will get better, and infection treatment techniques will become more effective. We will also perform fewer invasive procedures, as we’ll likely replace joints with cartilage instead of metal and plastic. Meanwhile, implantation materials and hardware will improve, and the longevity of implants should continue to increase.
Dr. Chen has received several mentorship awards that include the 2023 Outstanding Mentor Award from Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the 2021 HMS Scholars in Medicine Excellence in Student Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School.