Darrick K. Li, MD, PhD

Darrick Li, MD, PhD, is a gastroenterology (GI) hospitalist, which means he primarily takes care of hospitalized patients with gastrointestinal diseases.

“This is a relatively new field within gastroenterology. I see patients with conditions that can include GI bleeding, severe inflammatory bowel disease, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and foreign bodies,” Dr. Li explains.

Each patient presents a puzzle-solving challenge, says Dr. Li. “Patients who are very complicated and sick come to the hospital looking for an answer, or at least a management plan for the problems they face every day,” he says. “It’s an honor to help these patients get better.”

Dr. Li says he is mindful of how patients are often feeling when they come to the hospital. “They can be very ill and it’s a great responsibility to assess them and do whatever I can to help them and their gastrointestinal issues, and to provide clear communication to the patient as well as the family,” he says.

His research interests include the management of antithrombotic agents (blood thinners) in patients presenting with GI bleeding, inpatient inflammatory bowel disease, and quality improvement projects aimed at improving processes for hospitalized GI patients.