From singing in a cappella groups and playing jazz music to traveling on mission trips, Dr. Chengxi “Vincent” Li is a man of varied interests that complement his dedication to providing caring, high-quality treatment for people experiencing mental illness. Dr. Li, who will stay at UT Southwestern for his psychiatry residency, is the 2020 recipient of the North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Award for Outstanding Medical Student in Psychiatry. 

Dr. Chengxi "Vincent" Li

What this award means: “Compassionate patient care, evidence-based psychiatry, and dedication to improving individual and community mental health are values that have been modeled by the excellent psychiatrists at UT Southwestern. This award represents these values and reminds me to continually strive for them as I progress through residency and beyond.”

Mentor comment: “This award recognizes Vincent’s terrific performance in every aspect of his psychiatry education. We have all been deeply impressed with his dedication to compassionate patient care, his mission to treat patients with mental illness, and his zeal for learning the evidence base of psychiatry. We are excited to follow Vincent’s contributions to psychiatry and our patients as his career moves forward!” – Dr. Adam Brenner, Professor of Psychiatry

Background and family: “The most essential components of my background: Christian, Chinese-American, and musician. My parents are former physicians and have always been very supportive of my journey in medicine.”

What led to your career path: “Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by caring family members and Christian communities. In college, I developed an academic interest in neuroscience and behavior while becoming personally invested in people experiencing mental health struggles, through friendships and community involvements. During medical school rotations, I found that I most enjoyed listening and talking to patients, getting to know them beyond their illnesses. I also gained awareness of the need for increased education and reduced stigma surrounding mental illness in my Chinese-American community. These factors, among others, have led me to desire a career that will afford me the privilege of addressing deep-seated suffering in often-marginalized individuals.”

College: “I graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University, with dual majors in neuroscience and behavior, and music. I was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Jubilation! (a Christian a cappella group), and Peer Health Exchange.”

UTSW activities: “I served on leadership teams in the Southwestern Christian Fellowship, including its annual El Paso medical mission trip; the DFW Hepatitis B free screening group; Healthy Living; and the Geriatrics Interest Group. My musical involvements included the Lymph Notes a cappella group and M-Cats jazz band. I was also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha.”

Surprising fact: “People often say that I speak with a Southern twang, and they usually suspect that I’m from Texas. I’m not complainin’!”

Future plans: “Following residency, I may pursue a fellowship in addictions or consultation-liaison psychiatry. I hope to practice in an inpatient setting at an academic medical center where I can engage in medical education and research.”

About the award: The Psychiatric Physicians Award honors a student for excellence work in psychiatry and mental health.