Ming Chen, MD, MSc, FACS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the second consecutive year the Honolulu-based ophthalmologist has received this professional distinction. The recognition places Dr. Chen among an elite group of physicians, as only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors within their specialties and regions.
The importance of this recognition extends beyond individual achievement to serve as a valuable indicator for patients seeking quality medical care. Castle Connolly's selection process involves peer nominations followed by rigorous review by the physician-led research team, creating a system where medical professionals evaluate their colleagues based on objective criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. This peer-driven methodology provides patients with an independent assessment of physician quality that differs from typical marketing or advertising claims.
Dr. Chen's practice, Ming Chen, MD, INC, offers comprehensive eye care including cataract and glaucoma treatment, advanced eye surgery, and management of complex conditions such as vitreoretinal diseases. His specialized procedures include phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, and various treatments for dry eye and blepharoptosis. The practice distinguishes itself through its multilingual staff, serving Honolulu's diverse community in English, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Mandarin.
The Castle Connolly recognition system has broader implications for healthcare transparency and patient decision-making. As patients increasingly seek reliable information about healthcare providers, third-party validations like the Top Doctor designation offer an important reference point. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://castleconnolly.com and in various print and online publications, making this information accessible to the public. Notably, physicians cannot pay to be selected, preserving the integrity of the recognition process.
Dr. Chen's background includes medical education at Zhong Shan Medical College in Taiwan, extensive training in Illinois hospitals, and a Master of Science in Evidence-Based Practice from the University of Teesside in the United Kingdom. His academic contributions include 45 peer-reviewed publications in ophthalmology, and he currently serves as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. His professional leadership includes previous roles as President of the Hawaii Ophthalmological Society and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kuakini Hospital.
The practice also operates the Ming Chen Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers a Scholarship for Modern Eyecare Education, demonstrating a commitment to advancing the field beyond clinical practice. This combination of clinical expertise, academic contribution, and educational outreach represents the comprehensive approach to medicine that Castle Connolly's selection criteria aim to identify. For patients in Hawaii and beyond, such recognitions provide valuable guidance when selecting specialized medical care, particularly in fields like ophthalmology where technical skill and experience significantly impact treatment outcomes.
