Dickson Chen, O.D., graduated high school as valedictorian and student body president, then attended UCLA as a Regents Scholar before entering Southern California College of Optometry. While a student at S.C.C.O. Dr. Chen served as class president, student association president and AOSA National Spokesman before receiving his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1992. With a special interest in contact lenses, Dr. Chen has served as both a Clinical Investigator for Coopervision and Subject Matter Expert for the California State Board of Optometry.

Prior to becoming a founding member and director of the American Optometric Society, Dr. Chen served as chairman of the SCCO Young Alumni Association, president of the Rio Hondo Optometric Society and president of the California Vision Foundation. As a member of Lions International, he has served as Club President, Zone Chairman and Optometric Director of the Lions Eye Foundation of Southern California. Dr. Chen has also served on the Governing Council of the Southern California Public Health Association and co-chaired SCPHA's Legislative Committee. In 2003, the California Optometric Association named Dr. Chen COA Young OD-of-the-Year as well as its nominee for AOA's National Young OD-of-the-Year Award.

Along with being a Founding Member of the American Optometric Society, a member of the ABCO Board of Directors, and serving as the ABCO Assistant Executive Director, Dr. Chen is currently in private practice in Pasadena, California.