Dr Chen May - Lin graduated from the University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Feburary 1969. After spending a year doing housemanship in the dental clininc at Singapore General Hospital and also at Pegu Road Dental Clinics, she obtained a MSc degree in Children's Dentistry at Eastman Dental Hospital in London. Dr Chen worked as a registrar at the Department of Child Dental Health at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, UK. She also taught at the Faculty of Dentistry from 1972 till 1981.

During her sabbatical she went to Iowa, USA to pursue a Certificate course in Fixed Prosthodontics under Professor Thayer. Thereafter she went into private practive from 1981 to date.

Dr Chen is an avid reader interested in medical legal books and also in Christian literature. She worships at Barker Road Methodist Church and enjoys a game of golf now and then.