Yan Michael Li, MD, PhD, is a Board Certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon serving patients at the Minimally Invasive Brain and Spine Institute. The practice has offices in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, and Upstate, New York.
Dr. Li received his medical degree from Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China. He then obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
He completed a neurosurgical residency and enfolded complex spine fellowship at the State University of New York in Albany, New York. Dr. Li completed fellowships at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He also completed a neurosurgical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, focusing on complex brain and spine tumor surgery.
Dr. Li is an award-winning fellowship-trained spine and tumor neurosurgeon specializing in treating complex spine diseases and brain and spine tumors. He has a strong clinical interest in simple and complex spine surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and computer-assisted spinal navigation and robotic surgery.
Dr. Li provides the latest and most efficient treatment options for each patient with back pain, including minimally invasive herniated disk surgery through less than the one-inch incision, minimally invasive lateral or posterior spinal fusion surgery, and artificial disc implants that allow for more mobility.
He has a reputation as an expert in complex spinal surgery, with more than 50 percent of his referrals originating from other surgeons who relied on him for revision surgeries or complex spine cases outside their expertise.
Dr. Li’s practice emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to disease processes to achieve the best patient outcomes. He works closely with other specialists, such as pain specialists, neurologists, and physical therapists.