Benjamin C. Li, MD, MBA

“My goal is to empower patients, make sure they understand the most important points of the conversation and help them feel prepared for their next steps. I am dedicated to countering health inequities and making sure everyone gets high-quality care.”

— Dr. Li

What do you hope it’s like for a patient to work with you?

I want to create a safe, supportive and productive atmosphere. I try to avoid medical jargon and focus on clear communication and answering questions with honesty, transparency and compassion. 

I had a young patient who loved video games, which had been helpful to provide a sense of normalcy during an otherwise difficult period. The patient became inspired to share this with others, and I helped them identify a way they could donate a console and games so other patients could have the same resource. I felt honored to work with them to spread positivity in the world.

Have you been personally impacted by cancer?

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer just as I started medical school. She had spent most of her life caring for others as a family medicine doctor, but then she became the patient. This experience introduced me to oncology and shaped my path.

I appreciate not just the diagnosis that someone has, but who they are as a person and the narrative of their cancer experience.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Breast cancer, brain and spine tumors, metastatic cancers

I am a radiation oncologist who sees patients at the South Lake Union Clinic.

I have led the development of curricula and the study of radiation oncology training programs for providers, helping clinics around the globe implement high-quality stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/SBRT) for the treatment of central nervous system and spine tumors. I have similarly been involved in training programs focusing on 3D-conformal (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques that are commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer. I have been involved in collaborative studies looking at outcomes with novel uses of SRS in the treatment of brain metastases and continue to work on making this type of treatment more accessible. 

As Physician Lead for the Program in Global Oncology and Health Disparities for Radiation Oncology, I lead teams dedicated to improving circumstances for cancer patients in limited-resource settings globally. I work closely with domestic and international partners, colleagues, and clinics to support them in promoting access to high-quality, timely, and affordable radiotherapy. Together, we build and scale solutions that can help improve cancer outcomes across all disease sites.