Zhigang Li, M.D., Ph.D., is the Deputy Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Director of the Esophageal Surgery Section at Shanghai Chest Hospital. He also serves multiple academic positions in China, such as the Director of Esophageal Surgery for the Shanghai Thoracic Surgeons Association, and Vice Director of Esophageal Surgery for the Chinese Thoracic Surgeons Association.
After completing the Evarts A. Graham Memorial Traveling Fellowship in the United States, Li established the Esophageal Surgery Section in Shanghai Chest Hospital in 2015, which has grown to become the largest program in Shanghai. He is dedicated to the minimally-invasive surgical treatment of esophageal diseases and established the world's largest robotic-assisted esophagectomy program. As a surgeon with a wide range of academic interests, he also pioneered the development of Chinese magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment in China. At the same time, he is committed to a large number of clinical studies, such as the PreSINO, RAMIE, AdESD, and NICE trials.
Qualifications
Academic and Work Experience (Timeline)
1992–1997
Bachelor of Medicine (MB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
1997–2002
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
1997–2002
Residency, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
2002–2006
Attending, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
2006–2007
Visiting scholar, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, USA (3 months)
2006-2007
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA (1 month)
2010–2014
Associate Chief Physician and Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
2011–2012
Graham Fellow, American Association for Thoracic Surgery
2014–2016
Associate Chief Physician, Associate Professor, Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital; Deputy Chief of Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital; Director of Esophageal Surgery Section, Shanghai Chest Hospital
2017–Present
Chief Physician, Shanghai Chest Hospital
Professional Affiliations
Vice President of the Thoracic Surgery Branch, Shanghai Medical Association
Deputy Director of the Esophageal Cancer Professional Committee, Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association
Deputy Group Leader of the Esophageal Studies Group, Thoracic Surgery Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association
Standing Committee Member of the Intelligent Equipment Technology Branch, Chinese Medical Equipment Association
Member of the Esophageal Cancer Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
Committee Member of the Endoscopy Physicians Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association
Committee Member of the Esophageal Studies Group, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Committee Member of the Esophageal Cancer Professional Committee, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology
Deputy Director of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Multidisciplinary Branch, Chinese Medical Promotion Association
Leader of the Esophageal Studies Group, Elite Forum of Chinese Digestive Surgery
Council Member, China Chapter of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (CSDE)
