Victor E. Chen, MD, MPH

Dr. Chen chose to specialize in radiation oncology because he enjoys the collaborative nature of the specialty—he not only gets to work with nurses, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and physicists on a daily basis within the radiation oncology department, but he also works with physicians across many different specialties in order to develop the optimal multidisciplinary treatment plan for each patient. In addition, Dr. Chen enjoys the personal relationship that a radiation oncologist gets to develop with each individual patient and their loved ones throughout each patient’s treatment course. In his practice, Dr. Chen's areas of focus are benign and malignant brain tumors including stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife), lung cancer, prostate cancer, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and breast cancer. He sees patients in both Portland and Clackamas, OR.

Concurrently with his residency training, Dr. Chen completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, which allowed him to gain an appreciation of aspects of healthcare that are not commonly taught during medical school, such as cost-effectiveness, health equity, and social determinants of health. His MPH training provides him with a more holistic approach to cancer care, which Dr. Chen believes will be essential in the rapidly evolving US healthcare landscape.

Dr. Chen most enjoys the personal relationships that he develops with every patient. He particularly enjoys working closely with each patient to develop treatment goals and share with them the good news (at the end of a treatment course, or during follow-up visits) about the success of a radiation treatment—whether that means that they are cancer-free, or that their quality of life has been greatly improved, for example.

As an avid hiker, Dr. Chen enjoys the wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities that are available both within the Portland metro area or just a short drive away. He also likes exploring all the great restaurants in town (particularly the Asian restaurants) as well as the wineries in the Portland area. The vibrant, quirky culture of Portland is also a big reason why he enjoys living in the area. Outside of work, Dr. Chen enjoys hiking, exploring new restaurants, cooking, and traveling.