Joshua Li, MD, PhD

Dr. Joshua Li is the Mary Muilenburg Stamp Professor of Orthopaedic Research and Fellowship Director for the University of Virginia’s Surgery of the Spine Fellowship. Dr. Li was born and grew up in China. He attended Xi’an Medical University for both his M.D. and Ph.D. He came to the United States in 1999.

Dr. Li holds dual appointments as Associate Professor in the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at UVA. He completed an Orthopaedic Surgery residency at UVA, and a comprehensive Spine Surgery fellowship at the world-renowned Columbia Spine Hospital with Drs. Lenke, Riew and Lehman. Dr. Li has advanced expertise in a wide range of spinal procedures from microscope-assisted cervical artificial disc replacement, to single position OLIF, to the most complex spinal reconstruction for scoliosis. His clinical interests include degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine (herniated disc, spinal stenosis, etc.), spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome, etc.), spinal tumors, metastatic spine disease, spine trauma, minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic assisted spine surgery, and motion-sparing technology (artificial disc replacement).

Dr. Li has developed a renowned laboratory that focuses on intervertebral disc degeneration pathology and treatment with stem cells, nanotechnology, and gene therapy. He has been the recipient of over 30 grants as the Principle Investigator, including five NIH (National Institute of Health R03, R21s, and R01) grants. He serves as a committee member for the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), and the North American Spine Society (NASS). He has been on various grant review panels including those for the NIH, NASA, MTF, and AO-International.

Beyond Orthopaedics

Dr. Li is married to Dr. Li Jin. He likes traveling with his wife and playing badminton. He has also led an exercise group practicing Falun Dafa in Charlottesville for a decade.

Mary Muilenburg Stamp Professor of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedics Spine Division, University of Virginia
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia

Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery

Subspecialty: Spine Surgery

Cervical artificial disc replacement

Robotic-assisted spine surgery

Mini-invasive spine surgery

Spinal reconstruction for scoliosis

Intervertebral disc degeneration pathology and treatment with stem cells, nanotechnology, and gene therapy

Current IRB Studies

Relaxin in Degen Spondy

ULBD vs Fusion Study

Coin Test Gait Analysis with AI

Intraoperative Blood/Tissue Analysis

Comparison of L4-S1 ALIF and TLIF on Restoring Lordosis Distribution Index and Proximal Failure Rates

Cervical Myelopathy Coin Test

Psoas Muscle Volume s/p XLIF/OLIF

Lumbar Lordosis s/p TLIF w/wo PCO

Effect of Screw Size on Pseudoarthrosis in ACDF

Disc Herniation in Pts Receiving Immunomodulating Therapy

ACDF – Cage Subsidence in Sarcopenia

ENT Eval Prior to Revision ACDF

TLIF Cage Expandable vs Static

Primary Education: Xi’an Medical University

Residency:Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia
Orthopaedic Research Fellowship, University of Virginia

Fellowships: Spine Surgery, Columbia University Spine Hospital
– Lawrence Lenke (pediatric and adult spinal deformity)
– Daniel Riew (cervical spine surgery)
– Ron Lehman (robotic assisted and minimally invasive surgery)

Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed to practice in Virginia

To learn more about Dr. Li, his research projects, case studies, or patient feedback, please follow the link below.