Alumni Spotlight: Steven Chan, DDS, Res ‘81
A lifelong Angeleno born and raised in the Crenshaw district, Steven Chan, DDS, Res ‘81 has built a distinguished career in dentistry and public service—guided by family legacy, mentorship, and his formative experience at Martin Luther King Jr./Charles Drew Medical Center, where he completed his hospital-based general practice residency in dentistry in 1981.
The program was offered in academic partnership with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry.
“I learned about myself at CDU,” said Chan. “I discovered my humanity. Patients…taught me to see.”
After earning his undergraduate degree in zoology from UCLA and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry, Chan returned home to California, drawn by both opportunity and community. With the help of a family friend, he joined the postdoctoral program that would shape his future path in pediatric dentistry.
Today, Chan is a pediatric dentistry specialist in private practice. He is also the President of the Dental Board of California, the state’s regulatory agency for dental practice, and an officer on the governing board of his regional hospital district.
“My most prized title is given to me by my three-year-old granddaughter who tells everyone, ‘I’m Grandpa’s baby,’” shared Chan.
Chan’s identity and values are deeply rooted in generations of perseverance, love, and quiet strength—principles passed down long before any credentials were earned. His paternal grandparents arrived in the U.S. in the 1800s, and it was his father who inspired him to enter the medical field. A trailblazing graduate of USC’s School of Pharmacy, his father was among the first non-white students admitted.
“Being a doctor of color was rare and a big deal back then,” explained Chan. “I started off wanting to go into his pathway. Dad said I had the personality to do more.”
That belief—that he could do more—has carried Dr. Chan through a life of leadership and service. Yet even with his many accomplishments, he reflects humbly on how far he’s come:
“I never imagined I would one day move in the social circles I now inhabit. CDU has given us a rare opportunity,” explained Chan. “It’s more than making a living, more than building a career, more than reaching a high station in society. We’ve been given the chance to wear the robes—to touch lives. Now it’s our turn to go forward and inspire others.”