Xiaoli Li
Project: Assessing University Students’ Readiness and Acceptance of Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Education: A Multidisciplinary Pilot Study in Southern Illinois
Research Interests:
- Advancing aging care
- long-term healthcare education through technology and workforce development
Xiaoli Li is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Health Care Management at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, whose research focuses on improving the quality of long-term care for older adults through innovation, technology, healthcare education, and workforce development. Her path toward becoming an independent investigator has been shaped by interdisciplinary training, professional experience, and a strong commitment to advancing aging services.
Her interest in long-term care began prior to her academic career, when she produced the documentary Elder Care System and Quality of Care (2014–2016). This experience deepened her understanding of the challenges facing older adults and inspired her to pursue gerontological research. During her doctoral training in health services research, she developed expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how individual, organizational, and systemic factors influence care quality.
Dr. Li’s early research examined resident satisfaction and quality of care in long-term care settings, identifying key factors such as staffing, environment, and social engagement that shape residents’ well-being. Building on this foundation, her current research agenda focuses on the integration of emerging technologies, including information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual reality (VR),to enhance both healthcare delivery and education.
A central focus of her current work is a multidisciplinary project assessing university students’ readiness and acceptance of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare education. This project evaluates how immersive VR simulations can enhance students’ empathy, communication skills, and clinical preparedness by providing realistic, interactive learning experiences. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, Technology Readiness Index, and experiential learning theory, the study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine student and faculty perceptions, usability, and adoption of VR across health sciences programs.
In parallel, Dr. Li is developing VR-based training interventions for caregivers in long-term care, particularly in dementia care. Using immersive tools such as A Walk-Through Dementia, her work aims to improve caregivers’ empathy, communication, and decision-making skills, with a focus on rural and underserved settings. Together, these projects position her research at the intersection of education, workforce development, and care quality improvement.
Dr. Li has received several honors, including Scholar of the Year at Southern Illinois University (2023), Teacher of the Year Winners for 2025, School of Health Sciences, Southern Illinois University, and Early Career Faculty Scholar Excellence Award, 2026, Southern Illinois University, She remains actively engaged in professional organizations and editorial roles that support innovation in aging and healthcare.
Overall, her work reflects a sustained commitment to advancing healthcare education through technology-driven, evidence-based solutions that improve both workforce preparation and the quality of life for older adults.