Associate Professor Vivien Chen is a leading haematologist and internationally recognised researcher in blood clotting disorders. A proud graduate of MLC School, Vivien has dedicated her career to advancing patient care through groundbreaking medical research, clinical leadership, and a deep commitment to mentorship—while balancing life as a mother of two.

In 1989, MLC School Dux, Vivien Chen was the top achieving HSC student in the state. She came 1st in Economics, 5th in 4-unit Science and 9th in 3-unit English. MLC School was very proud of Vivien for such an outstanding success which capped six years of effort that resulted in 22 School prizes mainly in Science, English and Literature as well as Dux of Years 8, 10,11 and 12.

In an article celebrating Vivien in Lucis (Summer 1991–1992), her teachers recall her as being a beautiful person as well as a talented, outstanding student who delighted in learning. Apart from her love of Science, Mathematics and English, Vivien played the piano and the organ at church services, achieved an Associate in Speech and Drama (AMEB), was known to have a natural aptitude with languages, practiced Taijiquan (Tai Chi), skied and loved poetry and literature.

At the University of Sydney (USyd) (where she also took part in the MedRevue), Vivien won the University Medal for Medicine after she achieved First Class Honours in her Bachelor of Medicine degree. The same year, her friend and fellow 1989 MLC School graduate, Ruth Corran, was awarded the University Medal in Mathematics. This is believed to be the first time the prestigious University Medal has been won by two students from the same school in the same year. 

After completing her medical degree, specialist training in haematology, and a PhD in Australia, Vivien undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the renowned Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. There, she refined her expertise in platelet biology and the mechanisms of thrombosis, laying the foundation for her internationally recognised research career.

Vivien is now an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney and leads a translational research program at Concord Hospital and the ANZAC Research Institute. Her work has led to major breakthroughs in understanding rare blood disorders, predicting life-threatening blood clots including blood clots in cancer, catastrophic bloods clots with immune diseases and inherited bleeding syndromes – with impacts on clinical care both in Australia and globally.

She played a key leadership role in Australia’s response to the COVID-19 vaccine-related clotting disorder (VITT), rapidly developing diagnostic tools and helping shape national treatment guidelines, significantly reducing mortality. Vivien also contributes to health policy through advisory roles with NSW Health and global thrombosis committees and previously provided expert advice through the World Health Organization and Therapeutic Goods Administration.

A passionate mentor, Vivien has supervised physician trainees and research fellows, many of whom have gone on to win national prizes and international fellowships. She is invested in mentoring junior doctors and scientists.

Vivien continues to champion excellence, innovation, and compassion in medicine — values that were nurtured during her MLC School years.