Christine Lai Chen, MD

I grew up in nearby Bellevue, Washington – where I learned to love nature and enjoy all kinds of international foods. Growing up in a Taiwanese American family, I spent a lot of time learning traditional Taiwanese recipes and cooking styles. I have also tried many recipes from around the world, inspired by my favorite local restaurants. The natural beauty and cultural diversity of the Pacific Northwest has kept me here for most of my life – I completed both my biology and medical degrees at the University of Washington, and I am now looking forward to completing residency here as well. During my studies, there were two main things I looked for in my career: a chance to build relationships with people over time and serve the needs of the greater Seattle area. Knowing that many health inequities result from lack of access to primary care and that Washington State needs more family physicians, I decided family medicine was the specialty for me. In medical school, I completed additional training from the Underserved Pathway to increase my awareness of health inequities and how to help people from underprivileged backgrounds. At Valley Medical Center, I am excited to work near my hometown of Bellevue and give back to the community that raised me. Outside of medicine, I enjoy discovering new restaurants, traveling, and playing competitive badminton.