Tina T. Chen

Medical Technologist
Clinical Lab Services-Seay Lab

First UTSW job: I started working as a Research Assistant at the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research in 1993.

Best part of my job: I test patients’ specimens and provide good quality results to physicians. It helps physicians put all the pieces of the puzzle together to see the whole picture. I am happy to help provide this small piece of the puzzle because I imagine the patient as one of my family members.

How co-workers describe me: Quiet and introverted because I focus on work all the time.

Surprising fact: Before I joined the clinical lab, I worked in a research lab at UT Southwestern for 17 years and co-authored several scientific publications.

Funny memory: My lab has a “SHARED” label for specimens to share. One day my co-worker played a joke on me. He put a “SHARED” label on my back. I was not aware of it until I heard him giggle behind me.

Final note: I’ve pretty much grown up at UTSW. I learned science and American culture here. Working at UTSW is a part of my life, and co-workers are my family as well.