Dr. Karen Chen is a musculoskeletal radiologist at the Veterans Administration Healthcare System in San Diego, California. She joined the staff at UC San Diego/VA hospital in 2009 after completing her musculoskeletal radiology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been a leader in and proponent of musculoskeletal ultrasound at the VA, providing a needed service. Her other interests include rheumatology, sports medicine, and image-guided pain management.

Dr. Chen has led the initiative to re-organize the radiology-rheumatology medical curriculum at UC San Diego. Her joint efforts with rheumatology have culminated in a case-based educational session for the second year medical students as well as a lecture series for the rheumatology fellows. She is also actively involved in radiology resident education, organizing the monthly musculoskeletal radiology lecture series as well as continuing to lecture on musculoskeletal radiology both nationally and internationally. Her dedication to resident education culminated in the teaching award in musculoskeletal radiology at the VA hospital in 2016. She continues to have the best teaching evaluations in the section.

Dr. Chen is actively involved in national organizations and is a member of the Radiology Society of North America, American Roentgen Ray Society, American College of Radiology, and the Society of Skeletal Radiology.