Bio Sketch
Dr. Li is an Associate Professor of School of Healthcare Management at Tsinghua University. She specializes in healthcare service research and analysis, healthcare big data, and operations management. She has extensive experience in empirical research, including surveys, observational studies, and experimental studies. Her recent research focuses on using data analytics to evaluate hospital performance, with an emphasis on modifiable factors, and assess and promote sustained superior performance.
Dr. Li received a dual bachelor's degree in environmental science and economics from Peking University in 2001, a master's degree in environmental economics in 2004 from the Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in operations management in 2009 from the Pennsylvania State University. She joined the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management at Suffolk University in 2009 as an Assistant Professor. In 2016, she received tenure from Suffolk University and was promoted to Associate Professor at the same time.
To date, Dr. Li has published 15 SCI/SSCI-indexed papers, including high-impact journals such as Health Care Management Review (2025, 2023), PLOS ONE (2022), Health Services Research (2020), and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2016). She has served as a reviewer for over twenty journals and conferences, including Health Services Research, Journal of Healthcare Management, OMEGA, and Decision Sciences. She regularly presents her research at major international conferences in healthcare management and operations management, and has experience collaborating with Fortune 500 and regional companies.
Education and Work Experience
1997-2001 Peking University, Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences and Economics
2001-2004 The Pennsylvania State University, Master’s in Environmental Economics
2004-2009 The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Operations Management
2009-2016 Suffolk University, Assistant Professor
2016-2025 Suffolk University, Tenured Associate Professor
2025-now Tsinghua University, Tenured Associate Professor
Research Areas
Healthcare service research and analysis, healthcare big data, and operations management.
Representative Publications
• Rosko M.D., Li, K.J., Al-Amin M. 2025. COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds Distribution by Hospital Characteristics. Medical Care Research and Review 82(2):173-183.
• Li, K.J., M. Al-Amin, M. Rosko. 2023. Early Financial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Hospitals. Journal of Healthcare Management 68(4): 268-283.
• Al-Amin, M., M. Islam, K.J. Li, N. Shiels, J. Buresh. 2022. Is there an Association between Hospital Staffing Levels and Inpatient-COVID-19 Mortality Rates? PLOS ONE 17(10): 1-13.
• Li, K.J., M. Al-Amin. 2022. The Interaction between High-Level Electronic Medical Record Adoption and Hospitalist Staffing Levels: A Focus on Value-Based Purchasing. Health Services Management Research 35(2): 66-73.
• Al-Amin, M., Li, K.J. 2020. Hospitalists Staffing Levels and Total Performance Scores. Health Services Research 55(1): 44-53.
Academic honors and awards
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (2021)
• Top 20 Most Downloaded Paper Award of Decision Sciences in the 50-Year History of the Journal (2020)
• International Consortium of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM) Best Paper Award – Silver Award (2020)
