Dr. Li serves as the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Director of the Orthopaedic Spine Fellowship at the University of Virginia. He holds dual appointments as a Mary M. Stamp Endowed Professor in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Li completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Virginia, followed by a comprehensive spine surgery fellowship at the renowned Columbia Spine Hospital.

Dr. Li is widely recognized for his expertise in a broad range of spinal procedures, including microscope-assisted cervical artificial disc replacement, complex spinal reconstructions for scoliosis, and motion-sparing techniques such as laminoplasty. His clinical interests encompass degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine (e.g., herniated discs, spinal stenosis), spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome), spinal tumors, spine trauma, minimally invasive spine surgery, and robotic-assisted spine surgery.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Li is actively involved in both clinical and basic science research. He established an independent laboratory at the University of Virginia in April 2004, providing a robust platform for advancing spine-related research. Over his career, he has served as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than 36 grants, including eight NIH-funded projects.