Maria Chen, DO

As a geriatrician at NYU Langone, I am dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for older adults by providing compassionate, personalized care tailored to everyone’s needs and goals. I chose medicine because I wanted to provide a meaningful public service while building long-term relationships with my patients. From the start, I was drawn to geriatrics because it allows me to care for a diverse group of patients, each with their own unique medical complexities and personal care goals. My commitment to geriatrics comes from a very personal place—thinking about how I would want my own parents to be treated when receiving medical care.

In my practice, I focus on understanding each patient’s individual preferences and goals for their health. I believe that care should always be personalized, which is why I take the time to involve both the patient and their family members in the decision-making process. Family is a crucial part of the care team, and I strive to make sure they are part of the conversation and care plan every step of the way.

Although I don’t provide primary care, my colleagues and I work within a consultative model to address issues related to aging, such as frailty, falls, medication burden, and memory loss. My role is to partner with my patients’ primary care physicians to ensure that the health system is as aging-friendly as possible. Together, we help make practical, realistic recommendations that align with each patient’s individual goals and functional needs.

I was inspired by the idea of providing care that I would want for my own family, which led me to specialize in geriatrics. As we age, not all health conditions are best managed by the same medications or tests used earlier in life. At NYU Langone, I work closely with a team of specialized physicians in geriatrics and palliative care, and we also have experts in hospital care for when an older adult needs acute or inpatient care. My goal is to provide care that respects the complexities of aging and helps improve quality of life, always keeping the patient’s values and goals at the forefront.