Bio

Michael W. Chen, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Stanford University. He serves as an Associate Medical Director of the Medical-Surgical ICU and is also the Director of Adult Liver Transplant Anesthesiology. His clinical and academic interests center on perioperative management of complex abdominal transplantation, pheochromocytomas, non-OR anesthesia (NORA), and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). His other professional interests include quality improvement, teaching, and performing anesthesia for Great Apes.

Clinical Focus

  • Critical Care
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Anesthesia
  • Quality Improvement
  • Pheochromocytoma

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Director of Adult Liver Transplant Anesthesiology, Stanford Health Care (2025 - Present)
  • Associate Medical Director (MSICU), Stanford Health Care (2024 - Present)
  • ICU Quality Director, Stanford Anesthesiology (2022 - Present)

Honors & Awards

  • Malinda S. Mitchell Quality and Service Award, Stanford Health Care (2024)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society, Oregon Health & Science University (2015)
  • Richard J Johns Award, Johns Hopkins University (2012)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Author, Critical Care Medicine Examination Committee (ABA) (2025 - Present)
  • Member, Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia (SATA) (2023 - Present)
  • Member, Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA) (2019 - Present)
  • Member, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) (2017 - Present)
  • Member, California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA) (2017 - Present)

Professional Education

  • Board Certification, American Board of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine (2021)
  • Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology, Anesthesia (2021)
  • Fellowship: Stanford University Critical Care Medicine Fellowship (2021) CA
  • Residency: Stanford University Anesthesiology Residency (2020) CA
  • Internship: Stanford University Internal Medicine Residency (2017) CA
  • Medical Education: Oregon Health and Sciences University Registrar (2016) OR

Contact

  • Academic
    mchen54@stanford.edu
    Department: Anesthesia - Critical Care Position: Clinical Assistant Professor
  • Clinical (Primary)  Anesthesia 300 Pasteur Dr Rm H3580 MC 5640 Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 725-8544 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5640

Graduate and Fellowship Programs

  • Critical Care Medicine (Fellowship Program)
  • Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine (Fellowship Program)

All Publications

  • Neuromuscular Blockade in Critically Ill Adults The Pharmacist's Expanded Role in Critical Care Medicine Elnaggar, O., Chen, M. W., Farhan, H. Springer Cham. 2025; 1: 1215-1247

    View details for DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-77335-8_47

  • ACUTE ABDOMINAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME DURING COLONOSCOPY IN A WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA (GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA). Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Payne, T., Chen, M., Mihm, F., Mutlow, A. 2022; 53 (3): 621-627

    Abstract

    A novel case report of acute abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) with respiratory and hemodynamic collapse during colonoscopy in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), notably, without colonic perforation is presented here. ACS is a rapidly progressive and sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure leading to shock with multisystem organ failure. Surgical intervention was mandatory, and abdominal decompression was immediately life-saving, although the patient died 1 wk later of surgical complications. Colonoscopy is a widely performed procedure that is generally considered safe, and serious complications during colonoscopy are rare. ACS has been previously reported during colonoscopy with perforation in four cases (human)1,4,6,8. In this instance there was no evidence of perforation, representing not only a rare complication of the procedure, but also a novel cause of ACS. This is the first report of ACS in a nonhuman primate and of nonperforation-associated ACS in human or nonhuman primates.

    View details for DOI 10.1638/2021-0069

    View details for PubMedID 36214249