Diane Chen

Diane Chen, PhD, is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child Psychology), Medical Social Sciences (Intervention Science), and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She serves as Director of Behavioral Health for the Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and is the founding psychologist of Lurie Children's Gender Development Program and SPROUT.

Dr. Chen's educational background:

• BA: University of Michigan (2004)
• MA: Temple University (2008)
• PhD: Temple University (2012)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (2013)

Her research focuses on psychological functioning, reproductive health, fertility preservation, and medical decision-making among transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse youth and youth with differences of sex development (DSD). Employing mixed methods and translational approaches, her work addresses adolescent mental health, interdisciplinary care, and health policy implications.

Recent publications demonstrate her leadership in longitudinal studies of gender-affirming hormone therapy outcomes and qualitative research on medical decision-making for DSD, highlighting trends in mental health improvements and fertility preservation considerations.

Scientific Awards:

• 2025: Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 53)
• 2024: Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 54)
• 2023: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Meeting Senior Researcher Award
• 2022: Donald K. Routh Early Career Award; NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program Renewal Award
• 2021: Outstanding Teacher, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Multiple NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program Awards (2016, 2018, 2020)

Dr. Chen holds leadership roles in professional societies and NIH workgroups, and has secured significant research funding including NIH loan repayment awards. She is actively involved in editorial boards for journals such as Transgender Health and Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology.

She founded and leads key clinical programs: the Gender Development Program and SPROUT at Lurie Children's Hospital, focusing on comprehensive care for transgender youth and youth with DSD.