Endocrine Surgery
Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Professor of Pediatrics; Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair; Surgeon-in-Chief, UAB Hospital and Health System; Senior Advisor, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB; Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs…
Dr. Herbert Chen earned his Bachelor of Science degree with Honors and Distinction from Stanford University in 1988, followed by his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha in 1992. He went on to complete his general surgery residency and subsequently a fellowship in surgical oncology and endocrinology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Dr. Chen currently serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Surgeon-in-Chief of the UAB Hospital and Health System, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. He is Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics, and Biomedical Engineering, and holds the Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair. His clinical focus includes endocrine surgery, and he is recognized as a pioneer of radio-guided parathyroid surgery.
His laboratory investigates thyroid and neuroendocrine cancers and has secured over $36 million in extramural funding. He also serves as the American Cancer Society MEN2 Thyroid Cancer Professor. In addition, Dr. Chen is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Surgery and has held leadership roles across numerous academic societies, including serving as President of the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Foundation, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Society of Clinical Surgery, the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, and Surgical Biology Club II.
Dr. Chen has mentored more than 130 trainees—including faculty, post-doctoral fellows, residents, medical students, and undergraduates—and is widely known for his dedication to teaching and guiding the next generation of surgical leaders. He has published more than 670 original research articles and reviews and has edited 28 textbooks. Dr. Chen is also recognized for his commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Selected publications from PubMed
Revealing the sex divide: Primary hyperparathyroidism across the American population.
Swaminathan N, Kasmirski JA, Arain HA, Gillis A, Chen H, Lindeman B, Dream S
Am J Surg. 2026 Oct;260:117111 doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2026.117111.
Targeted therapies in the management of advanced medullary thyroid cancer.
Arain HA, Izhar A, Caretti R, Chen H, Vodopivec DM
Oncologist. 2026 Aug 6;31(9) doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyag300.
Cost Analysis of Thyroidectomy.
Aleman C, McLeod MC, Gillis A, Lindeman B, Fazendin J, Chen H, Zmijewski P
Am Surg. 2026 Jul;92(7):1999-2003 doi: 10.1177/00031348261419763.
Speaking Patient's Language: Assessment of Readability and Fidelity of Artificial Intelligence-Optimized Consent Forms.
Gomez-Carrillo D, Izhar A, Arain H, Swaminathan N, Caretti R, Roy R, Kasmirski J, Gillis A, Dream S, Chen H, Lindeman B
J Surg Res. 2026 Jun;322:317-325 doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2026.03.079.
Impact of Autoimmune Disease on Outcomes After Total Thyroidectomy for Thyrotoxicosis.
Arain HA, Swaminathan N, Caretti R, Carrillo DG, Izhar A, Gillis A, Dream S, Lindeman B, Chen H
J Surg Res. 2026 May;321:259-265 doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2026.03.014.
In this episode of the AIS Channel podcast, Dr. Luis Felipe Cabrera Vargas interviews Dr. Herbert Chen, a prominent figure in academic surgery, to explore the meaning and responsibilities of presiding over a surgical association. Dr. Chen describes the presidency as a great honor, a recognition bestowed by one's peers based on contributions and demonstrated leadership. He posits that surgeons are natural leaders, accustomed to guiding teams in the operating room, patient care, and research, making the transition to an organizational leadership role a logical step. The conversation delves into the president's functions, which include setting a vision for the organization, proposing initiatives, and guiding the society during their term. It is highlighted that the objectives are typically organizational in nature, such as increasing membership or the society's influence, rather than focusing on specific technologies. Finally, the discussion turns to what it takes to become president. Dr. Chen emphasizes that there is no single profile; rather, the most crucial factor is a long-term commitment to the organization, demonstrated through continuous service on committees, reliability, and the ability to work collaboratively. The episode concludes that the path to the presidency is built on a foundation of dedicated service and consistent leadership.
Published
Jul 2025
Welcome and Introduction –Dr. KMarie King (USA), Dr. Sharon L. Stein (USA) and Dr. Steven D. Wexner (USA) Statement of the Problem and AAMC Data – Dr. Tracy Wang (USA) It's more than a Gender Problem: Race/Ethnicity and Compensation – Dr. Anthony Watkins (USA) Reality and Pay equity, Why it doesn’t Balance – Dr. Herb Chen (USA) How RVU's Affect the System – Dr. Caprice Greenberg (USA) Market forces in Pay Equity & Recruitment – Keith A. Delman (USA) The Path Forward –Dr. Callisia Clarke (USA) Discussion – Dr. KMarie King (USA) and Dr. Sharon L. Stein (USA)
Published
Oct 2021
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