Dr. Philip Chen is a nationally distinguished Fellow of both the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG) and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE).  FACG is an honor bestowed to select active members demonstrating significant professional achievement and superior competence within the field of Gastroenterology.  FASGE is an honor designated to select active members who have made significant contributions to the field of endoscopy. 

He has developed a unique cap assisted water immersion technique for colonoscopy which optimizes patient comfort, achieves an elite level of quality for colon cancer screening (adenoma detection rate in the top 0.5% of all gastroenterologists) and has allowed him to diagnose and treat a rare cause of small bowel bleeding, ileal Dieulafoy’s lesion.  (There have been <5 cases ever diagnosed worldwide through colonoscopy while most cases have required numerous other extensive tests, prolonged hospitalization, blood transfusions and commonly, surgery for diagnosis and treatment). https://www.videogie.org/article/S2468-4481(18)30172-3/fulltext

He graduated from the George Washington School of Medicine with Distinction (top 15%) in 2002 and completed his residency training in internal medicine at UC Davis in 2005 and subsequently his GI specialty training at UC Irvine in 2008.  Throughout his training he achieved top scores within his programs among his peers and scored over 90% tile nationally in all in service exams and has continued scoring over 90%tile nationally in all his gastroenterology board certification exams including his most recent gastroenterology recertification in 2018.

He has been in GI practice since 2008.  Prior to joining United Gastroenterologists he practiced at the Riverside Medical Clinic for 7 years and helped enhance the quality of gastroenterology care in the area by introducing numerous higher risk endoscopic procedures which otherwise patients would typically be referred to an academic tertiary care center.  They included endoscopic mucosal resection of giant polyps, single operator cholangioscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy, advanced techniques for bile duct access and luminal stenting.  He is certified by the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy STAR program to perform large colon polyp removal and continues to focus on successful removal, appropriate surveillance and minimizing complications related to high risk procedures.  He also performed one of the first fecal transplants in Riverside County for refractory c. difficile infection at Riverside Community Hospital.

He served on clinical faculty at UC Riverside from 2013-2015 and currently continues to mentor high school and college students.  He co-authored with one of his college students the above mentioned case report related to a rare cause of small bowel bleeding, “A unique case of ileal Dieulafoy’s lesion diagnosed and treated by cap-assisted water immersion colonoscopy” Mai Bsc, Chen MD FACG, Yen MD MAS FACG FASGE. Video GIE October 2018.  It has an accompanying commentary by Dr. Chen in Endoscopedia December 2018.

Dr. Chen’s main passion remains his commitment to providing high quality, uncompromising, compassionate patient care.  By focusing and understanding his patient’s needs, he is dedicated to communicating well with his patients and referring physicians.  He tirelessly strives to serve his patients well by being conscientious, hard working and thorough.  He continues to enhance his knowledge with the most recent advances in Gastroenterology.  He also currently serves as a principal investigator in two active colon cancer screening studies utilizing noninvasive testing.

Board Certifications
American Board of Gastroenterology 2008 and 2018
American Board of Internal Medicine 2005

Honors/Accolades
Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG)
Fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE)
Hoag Hospital Top Performer from Gastroenterology June 2019
ASGE STAR Certified for Upper and Lower Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Medical Education
George Washington School of Medicine, MD with Distinction (Top 15% of medical school class), 2002

Residency
UC Davis, Internal Medicine, 2005

Fellowship Training
UC Irvine, Gastroenterology, 2008

Office Locations
Irvine – T: (949) 502-5572 | 16405 Sand Canyon Ave. Ste. 250 Irvine, CA 92618

Newport Beach – T: (949) 645-1967 | 1525 Superior Ave., Ste. 212, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Newport Beach Fashion Island – T: (949) 760-0398 | 400 Newport Center Dr., Ste. 609, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Fountain Valley – T: (714) 962-7705 | 18111 Brookhurst St., Ste 5200, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Murrieta Pointe – T: (951) 200-6791 | 40663 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Ste. C1, Murrieta, CA 92562