Yi-Li Wu

Yi-Li Wu is an Associate Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and History at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). She is also affiliated with the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. Wu holds a B.A. in Political Science from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in International Relations, and a Ph.D. in History from Yale University. Prior to her current position, she taught at Albion College for 13 years and conducted research with the EASTMedicine group at the University of Westminster (UK).

Her research focuses on late imperial China’s medical history, particularly exploring topics such as breast cancer, forensic medicine, bone setting, the circulation of Chinese medicine in Korea, and Chinese perceptions of European medicine. She is currently completing a monograph on the history of trauma and wound medicine in China, emphasizing how material and structural bodily experiences influenced Chinese medical thought.

Wu’s work spans interdisciplinary themes, including the intersection of gender, culture, and medicine. Her publications analyze medical texts, practices, and societal norms, offering insights into historical medical systems and their broader socio-cultural contexts. Her research bridges East Asian studies with global medical histories, contributing to discussions on medical knowledge transmission and cultural exchange.