Dr. Lan Li

Biography

Lan Li is a historian focusing on the intersection of medicine and health in global East Asia. Her research engages with topics related to anatomical representation, the theory and practice of Asian medicine, and the histories of acupuncture and moxibustion. Li's work also addresses the relationship between medical education and issues of race and the accessibility of healthcare. She received her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2016, served as a Presidential Scholar at Columbia University's Society of Neuroscience, and joined the medical humanities program in the Department of History Faculty at Rice University. Her forthcoming book, 'Body Maps: Improvising Meridians and Nerves in Global Chinese Medicine,' explores the visual history of mapping meridians and peripheral nerves from the early modern period to the twentieth century. This work contributes to ongoing debates among practitioners and historians regarding the metaphorical components of Chinese medicine, drawing insights from science studies, critical cartography, and medical anthropology. Additionally, she directly oversees the Medicine, Race, Democracy Lab, where she trains students to explore community health center dynamics within large hospital systems. Li also produces the 'Blue Beryl Podcast,' which features groundbreaking scholars and activists in Asian medicine. Her teaching focuses on the histories of drugs, sensations, and public health in East Asia, and she encourages students interested in the histories of Asian medicine to reach out for both undergraduate and graduate training.

Research Interests

Experience