Dr. Chin-chan Chu

Philosophy of care | Every patient is different and unique. I like to work with patients as a partner, sitting face to face and talking together. My role is to present various evidence-based treatment options, based on scientific studies. I always encourage patients to ask questions, and I’m there to make sure they understand everything. I’m even happy to write it all down so they can take the information home and think about it. I can’t decide the best treatment for patients by myself, but I can provide options and guidance to help them choose the best care. | Why I entered medicine | My father has diabetes. When I was 15 he started going into a diabetic coma several times a year. The first time it happened, I was at home with my parents where we lived in Taiwan. My mom was crying, so I quickly called my older sister, who is a family doctor in the United States, and asked her what to do. With her help I took his blood pressure, heart rate and checked his blood sugar. I found that I liked caring for my dad and started thinking I’d like to do that for other people someday. But I didn’t really plan to go to medical school until my dad asked one day if I wanted to try. I did, and the rest is history. I’m now helping patients get well and stay healthy, just like I once did for my dad. | Community involvement | I volunteer regularly at my father-in-law’s church in New Jersey. I participate in rummage sales and other fundraisers that support the church community. My other passion is helping animals. I’ve always loved them since I was a child, and my heart cries whenever I see an animal being mistreated. I even thought about becoming a veterinarian before I became a human doctor. I now have two cats that I adopted from a rescue shelter, and I also send regular donations to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). I help whenever I can. | Personal interests | I love spending time with my cats—they’re just like my son and daughter. My husband and I even have a small room in our house just for them, complete with a cat tree and toys. I also love traveling. When I was growing up, my mom took me abroad every vacation. I’ve been to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Southeast Asia and many other places. I particularly like trying local foods and learning new languages. I speak fluent Chinese and English, plus I know a little Japanese, Korean and Tagalog (spoken in the Philippines). I love to learn new things, and I think seeing many different places and experiencing new cultures has made me a more open person and a better doctor.

Her top areas of expertise are Cellulitis, Empyema, Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), and Necrosis.