Meet Our Providers
The heart of our practice is comprised of highly skilled physicians. We invite you to learn more about our team and how they diligently work to make a difference in the lives of our patients. The Board-Certified Gastroenterologists and staff at SoCal Gastro are committed to patient focused care. We proudly utilize the latest medical practices and offer the best healthcare solutions to improve the quality of life for every patient.
Joe M. Chen, MD
Dr. Joe M. Chen was born in Taiwan and grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. After receiving his medical degree at the University of Tennessee, he relocated to California where he completed his internship and residency at Harbor-UCLA, and then his GI Fellowship at UCLA. He is board certified in Gastroenterology and a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Chen’s primary interests are general GI consultations including colon cancer screenings and liver disease treatment. He has extensive experience in endoscopy, colonoscopy, and biliary procedures such as ERCP.
Dr. Chen has been a resident of Southern California for over 30 years and has ingratiated himself in the local community. Along with coaching soccer and serving on several school committees, he has also sponsored youth sports and athletes. Dr. Chen resides in Seal Beach with his wife, Beth and their 4 sons. Dr. Chen is a marathoner and tri-athlete, who has passed on the love of sports to his children. When he isn’t watching a college football game, a tennis match or a water polo tournament, Dr. Chen enjoys running, playing basketball and pickle-ball, and gardening.
Thai-Van Nguyen, MD
Dr. Thai-Van Nguyen, a board-certified gastroenterologist since 1997, joined Gastroenterology Consultants in 2006. Dr. Nguyen’s primary medical focus are gastrointestinal concerns and colon cancer screening. She has extensive experience in performing endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures. She also specializes in liver diseases, including hepatitis. Dr. Nguyen received her undergraduate degree in Biology Sciences with cum laude from the University of California in Irvine, California, and her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and then her fellowship in Gastroenterology/ Hepatology at the University of Southern California. Dr. Nguyen currently holds membership with the American Gastroenterology Associations, the American Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy, and the Southern California Gastroenterology Society.
As for her personal life, she was born in Vietnam and has been in the United States since 1975. She and her husband, Nicholas, have two girls. The family enjoys living in sunny Seal Beach and very much enjoy traveling, swimming, jogging, tennis, and skiing. Dr. Thai-Van Nguyen also dedicates her time volunteering with the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation over the last 11 years and is currently the Chairperson for the organization. From her community work, she has been named Women who Make a Difference by State Secretary Lou Correa in 2013.
Timnit Tekeste, MD
Dr. Timnit Tekeste was raised in Seattle Washington. She received her undergraduate degree from Mount Holy College in western Massachusetts. She also holds a Masters in Public Health degree from Boston University School of Public Health. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of California, Riverside. She completed her GI fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.
Dr. Tekeste joined SoCal Gastroenterology in 2022. She is a member of The American Gastroenterology Association and American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Tekeste practices general gastroenterology with a special interest in managing and treating liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer screening.
During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and hiking.
Alfred Reyno, PA-C
Alfred Reyno is a physician assistant licensed in California and is nationally certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He began his premedical studies with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Loma Linda University. He received a Bachelor of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Midwestern University in Illinois and a Master in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas.
Alfred has been a PA since 2000 and has worked in family practice and internal medicine. He has been practicing in gastroenterology since 2012 and has been a part of SoCal Gastro since 2015. He is committed to providing personalized and compassionate care for his patients while collaborating with our physicians in a team-oriented approach.
Alfred holds membership with the California Academy of Physician Assistants, and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). He is a member and a volunteer for the ACG APP Committee. He lives in Brea with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys travel, photography, walking with his dog Kiko, biking, trying different foods and following local L.A. sports teams.