Dr. Liu Xiumei

Dr. Liu Xiumei is a senior consultant neurologist at West China Hospital, Sichuan University in Chengdu — consistently ranked as one of China's top three hospitals nationally. With 19 years of clinical experience, she specializes in cerebrovascular disease and stroke, managing one of the highest-volume stroke services in western China.

Dr. Liu completed her medical and doctoral training at Sichuan University before undertaking a visiting fellowship at the Mayo Clinic Neurology Department, USA. Her research and clinical work focus on improving stroke outcomes in China's vast population, including evaluating thrombolysis and thrombectomy accessibility in western China, where regional disparities in stroke care remain a significant challenge.

She works within West China Hospital's comprehensive stroke centre, which is designated as a national model stroke unit by the China National Centre for Healthcare Quality Management in Neurological Diseases. She leads a multidisciplinary stroke team encompassing neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and rehabilitation services.

Dr. Liu is known for integrating evidence-based Western neurological medicine with recognition of China-specific epidemiological patterns, including the high burden of intracranial large artery stenosis as a stroke mechanism in Chinese patients — distinct from the atherosclerotic peripheral plaque pattern more common in Western populations.

Dr. Liu earned her MD and PhD from Sichuan University. She completed her neurology residency and specialist training at West China Hospital before undertaking a visiting fellowship in cerebrovascular neurology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

She is board-certified in Neurology by the Chinese Society of Neurology and has completed advanced training in neuro-imaging interpretation, transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound, and advanced EEG. She has participated in international stroke training programs through the World Stroke Organization and the Asia Pacific Stroke Conference.

Dr. Liu's primary clinical focus is ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, encompassing acute phase management including IV thrombolysis and coordination of mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion, as well as secondary prevention and neurorehabilitation planning.

She has particular expertise in managing intracranial atherosclerotic disease — including symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis — which is the leading cause of recurrent stroke in Chinese patients and significantly different from Western populations. She also manages patients with atrial fibrillation-related cardioembolic stroke and small vessel cerebrovascular disease.

Beyond stroke, she manages Parkinson's disease pharmacotherapy, epilepsy, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and general neurology conditions including migraine, peripheral neuropathy, and multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Liu has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Stroke, Cerebrovascular Diseases, and the Chinese Medical Journal. Her research focuses on intracranial atherosclerotic disease management, stroke recurrence prevention strategies in Chinese patients, and vascular risk factor burden in western China.

She has been a co-investigator on CHANCE-2 and other major Chinese stroke trials. She participates in the Chinese Stroke Association's national registry and guidelines development committee, contributing to national stroke management protocols that affect care for hundreds of millions of Chinese patients.

Dr. Liu sees international patients at West China Hospital, which provides international patient services and English-language consultation support. She consults in Mandarin and English.

Chengdu is increasingly accessible as an international destination, with direct flights from major Asian cities. West China Hospital attracts patients from neighbouring Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Chinese diaspora communities seeking neurology consultations and stroke management.

Video consultations are available for neurological second opinions and complex case reviews. The hospital's international patient centre provides coordination support for travel, accommodation, and medical interpretation.

Dr. Liu received the Chinese Society of Neurology's Outstanding Young Neurologist Award and recognition from the Sichuan Province Health Commission for contributions to stroke care in western China.

She has been named a Young Leader by the World Stroke Organization and serves on the Chinese Stroke Association's clinical guidelines expert panel. She presents regularly at the Chinese Stroke Conference and the Asia Pacific Stroke Conference.