The surgeon
Joshua Li, MD, PhD
Vice Chair for Research, Mary M. Stamp Endowed Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia. Motion-preserving, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted spine surgery — with an NIH-funded laboratory beside the clinic.
Dr. Li is Vice Chair for Research, Mary M. Stamp Endowed Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia. He specializes in advanced spine surgery across cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions, including motion-preserving, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted techniques. He also leads an NIH-funded research program focused on improving spine care.
He treats each patient as he would his own family, aiming for the least invasive solution that solves the problem and preserving natural motion whenever it is honest to do so. If a condition can be treated with a motion-preserving procedure, fusion is not recommended. If minimally invasive surgery can fix the problem, a long open incision is not chosen.
Clinical work includes degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine — herniated discs, stenosis, spondylolisthesis — as well as scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome, spinal tumors, and trauma. Signature operations include microscope-assisted cervical disc replacement, laminoplasty, ULBD, and complex scoliosis reconstruction.
Alongside the clinic he has directed an independent laboratory at UVA since 2004, studying disc degeneration and its treatment with stem cells, nanotechnology, and gene therapy. He has served as principal investigator or co-PI on more than 36 grants, including eight NIH awards.
“I believe healing is a journey built on truth, compassion, and tolerance. Perhaps we were family in another lifetime — today, we take this step toward recovery together.”
Training
Education & fellowships
Medical degree & PhD
Xi’an Medical University / Xi’an Jiaotong University, China
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia
Research fellowship
Orthopaedic research, University of Virginia
Spine fellowship
Columbia University Spine Hospital — Lawrence Lenke (deformity), Daniel Riew (cervical), Ron Lehman (robotic & MIS)
Appointments
Academic roles
- Vice Chair for Research, Mary M. Stamp Endowed Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia
The team
Clinic and laboratory
Clinical
- Susie Baker, RNClinical nurse
- Brittany Stevens, RNClinical nurse
Research
- Li Jin, PhDProfessor of Research
- Li Xiao, PhDAssistant Professor of Research
- Yuan Xing, PhDResearch Scientist
Recognition
Honors & awards
Selected from Dr. Li’s academic record — patient-experience honors at UVA, society research awards, and the Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award.
2012 · Featured
Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award, AAOS
- 2025University of Virginia Patient Experience Award
- 2025University of Virginia Charles W. Miller, MD Resident Teaching Award
- 2025ISSLS Best Poster Award
- 2025Top 1% Contribution to Research in Orthopaedic Surgery, Avant-Garde Health
- 2024University of Virginia Patient Experience Award
- 2024Alternate for the AOA 2025 ABC Traveling Fellowship
- 2023University of Virginia Patient Experience Award
- 2021Alternate for the AOA North American Traveling Fellowship
- 2019Best Bedside Manner Awards, Honorable Mention, OurHealth Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley — Surgery, Spine
- 2019Guest Editor, Seminars in Spine Surgery
- 2016University of Virginia Shen Resident Research Award
- 2016Eastern Orthopaedic Association Resident/Fellow Award
- 2015Eastern Orthopaedic Association Resident Travel Award
- 2015Orthopaedic Trauma Association Resident Grant
- 2015Virginia Orthopaedic Society Best Podium Presentation Award
- 2015AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinician Scholar Development Program
- 2013North American Spine Society Research Award
- 2013Eastern Orthopaedic Association Resident/Fellow Award
- 2011North American Spine Society Research Award
- 2011Orthopaedic Trauma Association Resident Grant
- 2011Eastern Orthopaedic Association Founders’ Award
- 2009–2010Young Investigator Research Grant Award, AO Spine North America
- 2008Scoliosis Research Society Research Award
- 2007Outstanding Paper Award, The Spine Journal
- 2007Virginia Orthopaedic Society Best Paper Award
- 2007Cervical Spine Research Society Research Grant Award
- 2006Outstanding Paper Award, The Spine Journal
- 2005North American Spine Society Research Award
- 2005, 2007Arthritis Foundation Travel Award
- 2004Career Development Award, Orthopaedic Research Society
- 2001New Investigator Recognition Award, Orthopaedic Research Society
Appointments
Ready to take the next step toward recovery?
New patients are welcome. Call the spine clinic or send a note — the team will help you find the right visit.