Xudong Li, MD

Xudong Joshua Li, MD, PhD, has advanced expertise in a wide range of spinal procedures, from microscope-assisted cervical artificial disc replacement 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, spinal spondylolisthesis); spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome), minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic-assisted spine surgery and motion-sparing technology (artificial disc replacement).

His research interests include intervertebral disc biology, cervical spinal surgery, scoliosis surgery, and clinical outcomes and epidemiology of spinal surgery. His research has earned him 24 awards, including one of the most prestigious awards in orthopedics — the Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2012. In addition, over the last 10 years, Li’s research on the causes of disc degeneration and treatment options has attracted more than $5 million in funding.

Li received his medical degree in orthopedics from Xi’an Medical University in China before earning a PhD in bone and mineral research from Xi’an Jiaotong University. He then came to the United States to continue his medical training at UVA, where he completed his residency and a research fellowship. A postdoctoral clinical fellowship in adult and pediatric comprehensive spine surgery at Columbia University Medical Center provided Li the opportunity to work with one of the pioneers in the field of cervical disc replacement, Daniel Riew, MD, and Larry Lenke, MD, one of the nation’s leading spinal deformity surgeons.

Li is an associate professor in the UVA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedics. He is an active mentor, has authored numerous articles for peer-reviewed publications and has served on review panels for agencies in the U.S. and internationally, including the Nation Institutes of Health, NASA, National Scientific Foundation and others.

View Li's academic profile.

Gender

Male

Languages

Chinese - Mandarin, English

Age Groups Seen

Adults (21-65)
Older Adults (65+)

Primary Education

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Xian Jiaotong University College of Medicine (1995)

Residency

University of Virginia Medical Center (2016)

Fellowship

Columbia University In The City Of New York (2017)

Certification

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)

• 2019 Best Bedside Manner Awards, OurHealth Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley Magazine; Honorable Mention, Surgery – Spine