Dr. Leona Chen initially began her career in Chemical Engineering. In 1974, she had been awarded the prestigious Alexander S. Langsdorf Fellowship at Washington University School for Engineering and Applied Science in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon receiving this distinction as one of four Fellows, selected from a nationwide competition, she embarked on a study of Chemical Engineering. During this time, she also spent time working in the field and received a patent for a chemical process to treat industrial waste water, recovering valuable ingredients for the manufacturing company and reducing harmful and costly waste products in the public water system.

Dr. Chen was one of only three other female chemical engineering students in a class of several hundred. She graduated in three years at the top of her class. Although she enjoyed the problem solving aspect of engineering, she found that she missed having more personal interactions. She decided to pursue medicine as a career, hoping to combine her analytical problem solving talents with her communication skills.

She was admitted to Cornell University Medical College in 1977, the first woman of Chinese descent to enter the medical school as a first year student. As she narrowed down her interests to ophthalmology she worked in areas of research at the Rockefeller University on the effects of various anti-oxidants on the prevention of cataracts. Upon graduation, she completed her first year of residency in Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Medical Center in New York City. She stayed there to complete three additional years of residency in Ophthalmology, serving her final year there as Chief Resident of Ophthalmology.

Since 1985, she has been in private practice in Ophthalmology in New York City. She has been able to successfully combine her analytical and technical skills with her desire to create long term relationships with patients. Happily, she can claim to often take care of three generations of patients, addressing the needs of patients of all ages. Her patients are especially pleased at her ability to explain the issues which affect their eyes. Her manner is comforting and educational. The many warm friendships that evolve from her interactions with patients are a testament to the reassuring and professional care they receive and to the trust they place in her.

“ To be trusted is the greatest compliment of all.”

Dr. Chen is a diplomate of The American Board of Ophthalmology, a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has been consistently named as one of America’s Top Ophthalmologists. She practices both surgical and medical ophthalmology and is happy to see patients of all ages.
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