Asian Health Hub

James Chen, MD

4.9(338 reviews)

Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon offering sports medicine, minimally-invasive arthroscopic surgery, and comprehensive orthopaedic care in San Francisco's Union Square.

Orthopedics
San Francisco, CA
English, Chinese
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About

James Chen, MD

James Chen, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon in San Francisco, CA, specializing in sports-related injuries and minimally-invasive arthroscopic procedures. He provides state-of-the-art care for the knee, shoulder, elbow, hip, and ankle, using the latest technologies to reduce incisions to just 4-millimeter portals for faster recovery. Dr. Chen believes in treating the whole patient, emphasizing personal attention before and after surgery, and he and his staff are available to answer any questions. His private practice, Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Inc., is located in a modern 4,000 square-foot facility in Union Square, offering on-site x-rays and ultrasounds, a comfortable waiting room, and a dedicated staff. Dr. Chen also works with local school athletic departments and serves as the team physician for the San Francisco City Football Club, and offers urgent orthopedic care through Ortho Care On Demand with a simple, transparent fee.

Highlights

Minimally Invasive Arthroscopic Surgery

technology

Uses 4-millimeter portals instead of 5-7 inch incisions for less scarring and faster recovery.

Team Physician for SF City FC

care

Serves as team physician for the San Francisco City Football Club and works with local school athletic departments.

Urgent Orthopedic Care

convenience

Offers Ortho Care On Demand with a transparent fee covering visit, x-rays, cast or splint.

Insurance Accepted

Anthem
HealthNet
CCHP
MultiPlan
Hill Physicians
Brown and Toland
Aetna
Cigna
United
BlueCross
Medicare
MedicaidVerify
MedicareAccepted
Private InsuranceAccepted

Referrals required in some cases. Please call (415) 900-3000 to verify coverage specific to your plan.

Services

Shoulder Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Chen specializes in both arthroscopic and open shoulder procedures.

Knee Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Chen recommends the least invasive treatment and uses latest advancements when surgery is necessary.

Elbow Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Advanced arthroscopic and open surgery procedures for the elbow.

Wrist/Hand Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Treatment for wrist, hand and upper extremity injuries and disorders.

Ankle Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Expert treatment for ankle fractures and other damage using arthroscopic or open technique.

Orthobiologics

Orthopedic Treatment

Administration of naturally occurring substances to treat conditions and enable healing.

Fracture Care

Orthopedic Surgery

Covers a broad range of orthopaedic treatments including fracture care.

Total Joint Replacement

Orthopedic Surgery

Includes total joint replacement procedures.

Ligament Repair

Orthopedic Surgery

Ligament repair procedures.

Meet the Team

D

Dr. James Chen

Orthopedic Surgeon

Board-certified, fellowship-trained general orthopaedic surgeon with a focus on sports-related injuries. Trained with best knee and shoulder surgeons in the U.S. Team physician for San Francisco City Football Club.

Pricing

ServicePriceNotes

Urgent Orthopedic Care Visit

urgent care

Contact clinicSimple, transparent fee covering the visit, x-rays, cast or splint through Ortho Care On Demand.

Location & Accessibility

Address

450 Sutter Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94108, San Francisco, CA, 94108

Reviews

AI Review Summary

Patients highly recommend Dr. James Chen for his professionalism, empathy, and expertise in orthopedic care, with many praising his attentive and efficient approach to treatment and recovery.

What people mention

Clinical Expertise

5 mentions

Positive
Multiple reviewers highlight Dr. Chen's knowledge, efficiency, and successful treatment outcomes.
Staff Professionalism

2 mentions

Mixed
While some praise the staff's friendliness and efficiency, others note instances of unprofessional behavior.
Communication

3 mentions

Positive
Patients appreciate Dr. Chen's straightforward, honest communication and willingness to answer all questions.
Treatment Outcomes

3 mentions

Positive
Many reviewers report successful surgeries and recoveries with minimal pain and complications.
Empathy and Care

4 mentions

Positive
Patients consistently mention Dr. Chen's warmth, attentiveness, and personalized care.

Patient Testimonials

Kojo Minta

2026-05-28

Dr Chen is the best! I came in with a torn Achilles and he took care of me promptly with the utmost professionalism and empathy. His PA Matt Mabida is also phenomenal - he's super knowledgable but most importantly he's a great listener and I know his personalized recommendations have helped accelerate my recovery. I can't recommend this team strongly enough!

Jonathan Chan

2026-01-16

(Update: Dr. Chen called and was very kind. I thought I should update the star rating because he was very helpful and the negatives I mention don’t directly relate to him.) I came in recently for a broken foot. Dr. Chen was great. He was kind and efficient with his diagnosis. I have only good things to say about him. The three stars are because his staff were weirdly checked-out. I thought it might just have been me at first. But I ended up having to go to multiple labs & doctors’ offices in the course of getting surgery on my foot and this ended up standing out. For example this is the only office where I had to wait standing up on crutches while checking in because the person at the desk wanted to finish chatting with their friends. Later Dr. Chen mentioned I needed to get surgery ASAP, i.e. within the next two weeks. I mentioned this to the person on the phone when asking them to fax a referral and they nonchalantly said it should be done within a week or so. I had to point out that that’d give me only a week after the referral to schedule the surgery. In contrast, at literally every other office, people held the door for me, told me to sit down so they could bring the forms to me, etc. Of course these things are minor and ultimately don’t affect the quality of the treatment and diagnosis from Dr. Chen. But this office was such an outlier that I felt a need to write a review.

Karen Uchiyama

2025-11-12

Dr. Chen and his staff, PAs and the anesthesiologist were very warm, competent and professional. I had arthoscopic surgery on my knee. I was surprised that the whole experience was pretty pain free, and I did not need any pain meds. The swelling was minor too. I feel good recommending Dr. Chen.

Kristina douglas

2025-07-10

Dr. Chen and his staff have been wonderful. Dr Chen fixed my shoulder after an on the job injury and has been very attentive and accommodating with recovery needs. His staff is friendly and efficient and everyone listens to any concern you have. I highly recommend Dr Chen for any orthopedic needs. Will definitely return should another injury come up!

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