Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH, CPH, FAAFP

Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH, CPH, FAAFP, a family physician in West Covina, California, is the new physician member of the American Academy of Family Physicians board of directors. The AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. Dr. Chen-Joea was elected to a one-year term by the New Physician constituency during the AAFP National Conference of Constituency Leaders and was confirmed by the AAFP’s governing body, the Congress of Delegates.

A new physician is a doctor in the first seven years of practice following residency completion. As the new physician member of the board of directors, Dr. Chen-Joea represents the interests and opinions of the new physician constituency to the board and the Congress of Delegates. She also advocates on behalf of family physicians and patients nationwide to inspire positive change in the U.S. health care system.

Dr. Chen-Joea serves as clinical adjunct faculty for Emanate Health Family Medicine Residency Program and University of Southern California teaching residents and medical students. She practices and teaches full spectrum care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Her patients include newborns, adults, prenatals and the elderly. She also teaches Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy and offers this for her patients. She was the prior Department Chair of Family Medicine and currently holds the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Medical Staff at Emanate Health.

Dr. Chen-Joea served as 2024 Co-Convener of the Women’s Constituency at the AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders. She is active in her local chapter, where she serves on the board for LA-AFP.  She most recently co-chaired the Member Engagement Committee and was a member of the California Academy of Family Physician’s Committee on Public Health and Equity.  

Dr. Chen-Joea earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also obtained a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. She earned a master’s degree in public health from Drexel University, with a concentration in Health Management and Policy. She graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 2016 with an osteopathic medical degree.