Professional Summary


Education & Certifications
  • Residency: Stanford University Dept of Neurosurgery (2011) CA
  • Internship: Stanford University Dept of Neurosurgery (2005) CA
  • Medical Education: University of California Davis School of Medicine (2004) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery (2014)
  • Bachelor of Science, Brown University, Neuroscience (1999)

Honors & Awards
  • Center for Brain and Behavior Awards in Pediatric Neurosciences (co-investigator), Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (2009-2011)
  • Disease Team Therapy Development Planning Award (Planning Investigator), CIRM (DR2-05373) (2011-2012)
  • Efficacy of using the Inovivo system to and checkpoint inhibitor treatment in GBM mouse models, Novocure (PI) (2023-2025)
  • Ernest Gold Award, University of California, Davis (2001)
  • Grand Opportunity Grant (co-investigator), NIH (RC2CA148491-01) (2009-2011)
  • Junior AOA, University of California, Davis (2002)
  • K08 Mentored Research Grant: PI, NIH-KNS085333A (2013-2018)
  • Michael Edwards Resident Teaching Award, Stanford University Department of Neurosurgery (2017)
  • Multi-scale modeling of glioma for prediction of tx response, tx monitoring and tx allocation, NIH R01CA26027101 Co-investigator (PI Gevaert) (May 2021 to April 2026)
  • NIH R01 CA239257-01A1 Optical imaging to improve surgery and targeted therapy in brain tumors, National institutes of health (PI) (2019-2024)
  • Phase I Trial of Locoregionally Delivered Autologous B7-H3 CAR T Cells in Adults with Recurrent GBM, CIRM CLIN2 Award: Lead Surgeon (PI Thomas) (November 2023 to October 2027)
  • Plummer Linzy Scholarship, University of California, Davis (2000)
  • Predoctoral Research Award, University of California, Davis (2001)
  • Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (PI), NIH-NCI (1F32CA132329-01) (2008-2010)
  • SANS Challenge Finalist, Congress of Neurological Surgeons (2008)
  • Stanford Cancer Institute Bioscience Screening Award PI, Stanford Cancer Institute (2014)
  • Stanford Spectrum-Medtech Translational Grant (PI), Stanford Spectrum (2014)
  • Translational Grant Co-PI, CIRM (TRAN1-08522) (2016)

Administrative Appointments
  • Assistant Program Director, Stanford University Department of Neurosurgery (2020 - Present)
  • Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Stanford University School of medicine (2022 - Present)
  • Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford (2021 - Present)

Publications

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.


Practice Locations


Brain and Spine Tumor Center at Stanford Neuroscience Health Center Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

213 Quarry Road

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 497-7777

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

CyberKnife Program at the Neuroscience Health Center Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

213 Quarry Road

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 725-0084

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Skull Base Surgery at the Neuroscience Health Center Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

213 Quarry Road

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 497-7777

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Stanford Neuroscience Health Center Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

213 Quarry Road

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 723-6469

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Neurocritical Care Program Stanford, CA
Stanford, CA

300 Pasteur Drive, 3rd Floor

Stanford , CA 94305

+1 (866) 742-4811

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Pituitary Center Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

Neurosurgery Program Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

Patient Ratings

(43 Ratings)

Overall Rating
4.9/5

View Ratings by Category

5.0/5
Friendliness
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
4.9/5
Explanations
Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition
4.9/5
Listens
Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries
5.0/5
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your treatment
5.0/5
Recommended to others
Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others
0.0/5
Wait times
Wait time at clinic (from arriving to leaving)

How Our Ratings Work

The Patients Ratings and comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.

Patient Satisfaction Survey Disclaimer

Patient Reviews

(183 reviews)

Dr.Li is an excellent doctor. He always explains things very well. He is also very caring and patient. After talking to him, I feel much better about my situation. I feel very lucky having him as my doctor.
great
Dr Li was pleasant to speak with., appears to be genuinely interested in delivering updates and good news regarding my MRI result. I’m blessed to have him as one of my MDs.
Very pleasant to speak with and knowledgeable about my condition
He is pleasant and very knowledgeable.
Excellent doctor who cares about his patients.
Excellent visit
Dr. Li was very helpful and caring. We wish we had been able to have a referral with him earlier to help with my Mom's brain tumor.
He was very caring and cordial, extremely knowledgeable and I have confidence in him.
Excellent Doctor to talk with. I feel lucky to be in his care.
Dr. Gordon Li is very personable and has addressed all my concerns during my first visit in office and also today even when we had a video call. He has so much empathy to my condition and I feel very at ease and comfortable being his new patient. Thank you so very much, Dr. Li! God bless you.
Answered my questions and care going forward.
He is very outstanding.
He is an amazing surgeon, and I am so lucky to have him and his team on my side!!
Always excellent patient care and attentiveness
Very competent , compassionate doctor
Dr. Li was extremely professional and I feel dry comfortable with him and his team!
Dr. Li is always thorough and positive when explaining the results for my brain MRI.
I thought Dr Li had Great bedside manner. He was Very caring and helpful.
Always accommodating and reassuring. Thank you
I've had 3 cancer surgeries at Stanford since February 2017. Everyone I've encountered during my cancer journey have been highly competent, knowledgeable, fully engaged in my treatment care and supportive of one another. Dr Beth Beadle mentioned before my first surgery that with cancer and the need for follow-on care, my team becomes a "family" and 6 years later I can see that she is right. Dr Li epitomizes all the above and I value his expertise.
Dr. Li is an excellent example of why Stanford has such a stellar reputation. Amazing "bed-side" manner. So approachable.
Dr Li is very informative when asked questions he is compassionate and I enjoy our conversations
they are specialist and good at what they do
Thorough, compassionate, discussed his opinions and options available. Collaborative.
Great visit!
very thorough
He was very personable and helpful.
Dr. Li is my favorite neurosurgeon.
Dr. Li was very attentive as I am dealing with some serious medical issues and answered all of my questions regarding my treatment. He is a great doctor who takes the time to hear my questions and concerns.
He answered our questions with careful thought and clarity. He was very knowledgeable about the topic, and gave us great confidence that the procedure we were contemplating to do was the right choice given the constraints we had. Well worth the time and money for the excellent feedback he gave us.
Very friendly and hopeful
Easy communication. With his assistant gave me plenty of time. I wouldn’t hesitate to contact him if I thought it necessary.
I was able to schedule an appointment with Dr Li and the response from the Neurology department has been very helpful in addressing my concerns.
Satisfied with explanation for my scenario and now have peace on mind!
DR. Li is very personable and a caring physician. He tries to explain my results to me (even though it is foreign to me!). He answers every question I have as best he can.
The visit was easy to connect and the info was communicated well.
Doctor Li was great.
I'm a big fan! Did a fabulous job, kind, concerned, and takes time to explain things. Reassuring.
Good doctor
He looks like a very caring person and looking forward to meeting him
He asked all my questions in a manner that I was able to u dear and fully.
He is very thorough and explains what is happening and what the plan is. I highly recommend him.
Overall I had a great experience with Dr Gordon Li. He's a great doctor.
Fantastic doctor. The operational pieces with the surgery was not ideal
Very good
Very nice visit.
Dr Li is very knowledgeable and courteous.
Doctor Li is very carrying
Excellent surgeon he saved my life.
Dr. Li explained the results of my MRI of my Brain and the plan moving forward and when I need to have a followup scan. If I have any other issues he said I can always have the scan sooner than the recommended followup. I didn't realize I could still have tumors there after the cyberknife radiation, they just may not be active, so I was suprised and concerned about this finding for the future.
Dr. Li answered all my questions and concerns. I was very satisfied with the appointment.
Very nice
Thank you for the care you provide I appreciate all that has been done thus far.
Good first visit! We need a new CT scan as a follow up.
From the ED, the Urology clinic, to Dr. Li and his team, I have received nothing but outstanding care from all personnel!
I would recommend Dr. Gordon Li and his team, and Stanford Health Care in general to others. The care/services is stellar.
Dr. Gordon Li is an amazing doctor and he has been very helpful and informative from the very beginning. I feel very lucky to have been able to have him as my doctor and I’m grateful for the experience he provided. I would like to give my thanks to him because I know that the work he does requires years of schooling and if it wasn’t for people like him that took the time and effort to become the amazing doctors that are available to us who need them, who knows where we would be. I would like Dr. Gordon Li to know that I am very grateful to him. I feel as though I had the very best treatment available to me because of him.
Dr. Li has been wonderful starting with my initial consultation and all the way along through my surgery and the time following the surgery while I was in the hospital. He has followed me closely while I was recuperating at home, and has been monitoring my progress as I have had 2 post surgery MRIs. I feel very lucky that I was able to have Dr. Li do my surgery, and I am very happy with the results. I would highly recommend Dr. Li.
I would recommend highly of the physician and getting medical care at Stanford healthcare
The video call option works well for me because I am out of state and Dr Li is amazing surgeon!
Dr Li is outstanding! He’s on time too. I’m confident that getting the best care possible with Dr Li.
Great experience!
He is a great doctor and has a good personality for this type of care.
Dr. Li is absolutely amazing & his staff. Lanchi his nurse is fantastic and checks on me thru the patient portal & is quick to respond to any questions or concerns I have. I come all the way from Texas when I need brain surgery to because of Dr. Li. He is EXCELLENT and 5 out 5 STARS â­ ï¸
Thank you for a very comprehensive appointment.
No comments
Great chat. To the point and friendly. Great professional resource.
He is very encouraging and told me what we would be doing next with my MRI,s which was good news. He has always been very helpful and has a good outlook for me.
Excellent.
His assistant was very helpful
Nice doctor very helpful
Great doctor, knew his stuff.
Very great Doctor and explains the information thoroughly. He makes sure you are assured of what is going on and that all your questions are answered.
Very clear message and path forward
I was so impressed by Dr. Gordan Ho-Wan Li. He was very compassionate and had an excellent bedside manner.
Good.
Excellent service.
Dr. Li listens well and is great at making his patients feel reassured.
Doctor made sure he answered all our questions. He recommended what we should do -
Dr. Li is great!
Dr. Li continues to prove himself to be an outstanding physician and he always show concern about my physical well-being.
Highly professional.
Very positive experience with Dr. Gordon Li. This was a post-op check up. Thoroughly examined the wound site. Answered all our questions in a way that we understood.
Dr. Li and his assistant are very friendly, making me feel comfortable during the visit.
Great care every visit.
Dr. Li is one of the best doctors I ever meet he is very friendly and kind and caring.
Dr. Li and his staff are consistently EXCELLENT!
Dr. Li was wonderful! Took his time, wonderful bedside manners, patient, very informative.
Good experience.
Dr. Gordon Li is THE BEST OF THE BEST!! Stanford Health Care should be proud of having such a fine medical provider in the team!!
Very good experience. 10. Highly recommend.
Dr. Li's integrity & quality as a surgeon & person are evident in how well he treats me. Under his care, I have had the best experience one can ever have undergoing major surgery.
Dr. Li is excellent!
Dr. Li is intelligent and respectful of me and my medical situation. Excellent!
I have nothing but praise for Dr. Li and his nurse practitioner. Both of them are very competent, caring and compassionate.
I always enjoy my visits with Dr. Li and his staff. They are very professional and caring.
Always great experience with Dr. Li.
Dr. Li is thorough, kind & always reassuring.
Always enjoy my time and discussion of my health with Dr. Li and his staff.
Very clear on process and expectations.
I always enjoy my time with Dr. Li.
Dr. Li is a very personable and professional. I felt comfortable asking questions. He was very kind and supportive. Excellent suggestions and information.
Dr. Li is a wonderful doctor (care provider).
Good.
I'm very grateful for Dr. Li's care & expertise.
Dr. Gordon Li was wonderful - he had a GREAT patient manner & was so caring and reassuring in his treatment plan & explanation. It made a good deal to me & I so appreciated his kindness.
Dr. Li is truly an amazing doctor.
I highly recommend this care provider. Dr Gordon Li is a great doctor who treats patient very well. He understands patients health and try to give his best to treat.
I am very happy to be treated by Dr. Gordon Li. Thank you Stanford for great doctor!!!
Dr. Gordon Li is very kind and treats very well. He is very caring and concerned about patients. I would definitely recommend. He is a great surgeon.
Highly recommend Stanford for medical care.
Dr. Li is the best! He saved my life.
We felt privileged that he took the time to fit us into his schedule. He made us feel comfortable when asking questions and was very sympathetic towards our situation.
I was very impressed with Dr. Li's visits at the hospital after surgery - He has a wonderful bedside manner to instill hope and confidence during recovery -
Dr. Li was very considerate and thorough with all my detailed questions.
Dr. Gordon Li was great at listening to all my concerns and providing the appropriate response. He even went the extra mile to suggest renewing my MRI with the tumor board.
Dr. Li was very professional and knowledgable regarding my case. He answered all my questions regarding my condition.
Satisfied with the amiability and courtesy.
I had the most incredible clinic visit with Dr. Gordon Li. He was compassionate, thorough, and kind. He made me reassured about my condition. My procedure, and instilled absolute.
I was specifically referred to Dr. Li for his high reputation. I certainly was not disappointed with his expertise or communication skills and care.
Did not seem rushed, gave me great attention and explanation of what was going on. Very impressive.
Especially Dr. Li.
Dr. Li was clear and understandable. I didn't feel rushed. He answered all my questions.
I had the good fortune to have Dr. Gordon Li as my Doctor. He was kind, soft spoken, patient and caring. He made me feel at ease and confident to have him treat me. He basically walks on water for me!!!
Dr. L. is amazing!! I cannot believe how blessed I was to be referred to him. He's extremely sensitive to his patients and instills confidence in the medical process & procedure.
Dr. Gordan Li in an elite class. Very thankful for his expertise. I'm still here for my family thanks to Dr. Li.
Excellent!!!
I love Dr. Gordon Li!
"Great experience with Dr. G. Li. Very fortunate to have him as my brain neurosurgeon!!
I couldn't be in better hands - I'm so grateful to have such a skilled and kind surgeon. If I'd stayed with my healthcare in Hawaii, I'd probably not be around anymore. He took a handle of the situation.
Never felt rushed. Also a full explanation and spent all the time needed until all my questions were answered.
Very good experience. The doctor was very knowledgable & set me at ease. He patiently explained to me & what the problem was & reassured me.
Excellent, I was worried coming in. Recommendations made sense. I left with my questions answered.
Dr. Li was so attentive and took time out of his schedule to call and speak with me twice about my condition & treatment options.
I have nothing more to say than give thanks to the good lord for Dr. Li and his team. He's an outstanding doctor.
Dr. Gordon was knowledgeable, compassionate, with clear communication regarding prognosis & treatment. He gave us plenty of time to ask questions & understand a difficult situation.
Dr. Li is wonderful! He makes you feel that you are his only patient. I hope he never leaves the practice!
Dr. Gordon Li is a "personality plus" doctor - He is so kind and totally focuses on you and your problem. Very patient person, very sweet.
Dr. Li is an exceptional physician & care provider. Without a doubt one of the finest doctors I've had the extreme good fortune (all things considered) to have as a key part of my team. In addition to the personal ? warmth/empathy he has & shows is a tremendous boost to my treatment, trust, & confidence in my overall care & my feeling that I am in exceptionally good hands.
Dr. Li spent a considerable amount of time with me. I appreciate his time and patience.
Very good.
Dr. Li is awesome!
Dr. Li was outstanding in his care and informing me of expectations I will have in my future.
Dr.Li was outstanding with regard to informing me of what the issue was.
In addition to being a skilled surgeon, Dr. Li has always been kind and compassionate. He takes the time to explain things and never seems rushed.
Great services provided. Enjoyed taking w/Dr. Li and NP.
Did feel a little rushed. But overall great experience.
Amazing how well Dr. Li takes his immense knowledge and communicates so clearly and openly. It's great having a two-way conversation and learning from him!
Very good
Dr. Li is a wonderful young surgeon, who is not only brilliant, but also extremely caring and attentive to the overall well-being of his patients. He is also very responsive to questions. We would highly recommend Dr. Li to family & friends, and would give him a perfect 10!!
I never could have imagined a more personable and genuine physician like Gordon Li. STill very impressed with outstanding care, time, patients, and support he demonstrated.
Dr. Li has always been attentive to my needs and concerns.
Dr. Li's skill, respect for his patient & family, calm and steady demeanor, and fact-based empathy make him a highly trusted doctor.
Also the best.
Very good.
Care was excellent throughout.
Very good thank you.
Dr. Li is very supportive, caring and eager to work with me and support me 110%. He is open-minded and willing to think outside the box, exploring and discussing options to help me improve my health care issues and needs. He is awesome!!
Exceeded expectations.
Very nice couldn't be happier.
Kind, gentle, respectful care was about average compared to any medical facility I'd experienced in my life time.
Excellent doctor. Explained all procedures & medications with family. Couldn't ask for anything better. Very caring.
Dr. Li is an exceptional doctor. he is an example for all doctors to model. he goes above and beyond for is patients - thank you Dr. Li for the amazing care & help you gave my father-in-law.
I came 4 hours to have Dr. Li. I trust him with my life. So knowledgeable.
Excellent attention.
Dr. Li is wonderful, he is knowledgeable, and explains all risks and upsides.
Dr. Li was one of the VERY BEST doctors I have seen in DECADES of good experience with Stanford Med Center doctors.
Dr. Li has been outstanding!
Excellent.
Great experience.
Dr. Li is excellent. He emails me directly to ask for my progress, and replies quickly. So problems can be quickly addressed.
The clinic sets the best example for their patience.
Dr. Gordon Li delivers the highest level of excellence in care with compassion, yet he is humble and approachable. I highly appreciate his care.
Good experience.
Was the 1st visit we were ever confident in provider or facility.
Dr. Li is VERY GOOD.
I would have liked a little more discussion about my condition, but understood that since I wasn't a surgical candidate, a referral to another dr. was approp.
Dr. Gordon Li is outstanding! I love him! He is kind, attentive, knowledgeable, compassionate and so very capable! I and Stanford are so fortunate to have him as a dr. I wish all doctors were as awesome as he is!!
Dr. Li was excellent, great bed side manner & actually listened to my concerns.
If my condition takes a turn for the worse - I'll be back!
All very good.
Was never alone in exam room.

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