Our Current Team
Mary Khetani
Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Interim Director of Graduate Studies, PhD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Health Sciences
Director, CPERL
1919 West Taylor Street
Rooms 716, 744, and 745 AHSB
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Our team
Vivian Villegas – Senior Research Specialist
Occupational Therapist, Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford
Clinical Instructor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
I was introduced to CPERL and Dr. Khetani during my time in the MSOT program at UIC. I immediately admired Dr. Khetani’s tenacity and leadership within the classroom. Once meeting with the CPERL team, I observed an environment that I knew would foster growth and mentorship as I completed the OTD program. Now as a pediatric occupational therapist, it is imperative to me to have a career that also includes meaningful research engagement. I am honored to continue my work at CPERL in my new role as research specialist to continue building the skills I learned as a graduate research assistant to accelerate family-engaged and participation-focused care.
What do you work on in CPERL?
I am coordinating research on the implementation of the PEM+ intervention in early childhood service contexts and engaging in ongoing anti-racist work to upgrade the functionality and use of electronic participation-focused tools for service providers and minoritized families of young children with developmental needs.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
I love to jog, play the card game, Euchre, with my friends, and search for the best sushi in Chicago. When I am running, I value the opportunity I have to explore my environment. When playing card games and dining with friends, I enjoy the opportunities I have to build rich connections with those around me.
Lilyanna Patton – Research Assistant
OTD Student, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
As an entry-level (E-OTD) student exploring opportunities to grow and engage in meaningful work, I was drawn to CPERL’s mission of developing tools to enhance pediatric (re)habilitation. I am passionate about pediatric and family-centered care and am inspired by the work of CPERL. I am confident that being part of the team at CPERL will be an enriching experience where I can learn from the members and contribute to the field and its growing research.
What do you work on in CPERL?
I am an intern supporting the team in their project that advances equitable service tools for early intervention families. This project focuses on evaluating an electronic tool that invites families into the evaluation and intervention process to facilitate their child’s participation in activities.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
I love spending time with my partner, family, friends, and two cats. I cherish any opportunity to deepen my connections with them. I also like to watch comedy TV shows to relax. When it’s warm out, I enjoy taking walks and being outdoors. It’s a great way to clear my mind and enjoy the sun and fresh air!
Lauren Frame – Research Intern
OTD Student, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
My journey as a parent led me to occupational therapy and the desire to help other caregivers have access to the best possible care for their children, particularly in early childhood. CPERL’s aims align with my own through forward thinking research and a focus on client-centered care. I am also excited to be part of a lab with a strong culture that values mentorship, equity and interdisciplinary collaboration. These values and the opportunity to engage in meaningful research will be invaluable as I progress through my E-OTD program and in my future practice.
What do you work on in CPERL?
I will be supporting the team as a research intern and helping with data analyses for the AHRQ-funded project on family-centered care coordination in early intervention.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
As a busy mom of 3, I live for quality time with my family. Spending time outdoors exploring the forest preserves, playing board games, and even running daily errands are opportunities to bond and grow together. I also love gardening using native plants to increase biodiversity, and I am an active board member of a native ecosystem advocacy group. Gardening makes me feel connected to the world around me and it is satisfying to know I am making an impact that improves the environment for everyone (and everything).
Jing-Wen (Madison) Su – Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Student, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
As an international occupational therapist, I have contributed to pediatric practice in both Taiwan and the United States. My journey has led me to pursue scientific training so that I can continue to build research evidence for international pediatric occupational therapy, with Dr. Khetani’s mentorship. I am so excited to join the CPERL team as I become a rehabilitation scientist.
What do you work on in CPERL?
I am joining the CPERL team as a PhD student and will be contributing to a research project that involves the use of electronic health records documentation for families of infants who have experienced the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim is to develop informatics solutions that include the contributions of pediatric occupational therapy to support their successful transition to home and follow-up care. I will also assist with ongoing projects to examine how family-centered care is experienced by families receiving follow-up care in systems like early intervention.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
I love dancing, drawing, and exploring a new coffee shop, releasing tension and pressure. Sometimes I enjoy the outdoors with my friends to spend time in nature, which heals my spirit from the hectic city. I also enjoy listening to music and reading Mandarin books on my e-readers. Making new friends and connecting with old friends allow me to gain different perspectives and ideas.
Yebin Han – Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Student, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
I was drawn to CPERL’s mission of advancing family-engaged and participation-focused care because it aligns with my professional goal of supporting children with developmental disabilities and their families through evidence-based, data-informed approaches. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have seen firsthand the importance of meaningful participation in daily life. Joining CPERL allows me to grow as a researcher while contributing to work that bridges clinical practice and real-world impact for families.
What do you work on in CPERL?
I will be contributing to data collection and mixed-methods analyses for evaluating the PEM+ application as a scalable digital tool that is being developed to advance participation-focused service design in pediatric rehabilitation service contexts like early intervention. I will also contribute to ongoing analyses for related projects examining how family-centered care is experienced as families navigate pediatric rehabilitation services into and through systems like early intervention.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
I enjoy exploring local coffee shops, running outdoors, and doing activities like gym workouts and climbing. These routines help me stay energized and focused, while also giving me space to reflect and recharge.
Heri Ryu – Research Intern
Honors Undergraduate Student, University of Illinois Chicago
What drew you to CPERL? How does CPERL align with your professional vision?
As an honors undergraduate student and part of the GPPA program, I am interested in public health and committed to pursuing a career as a physician. I was immediately drawn to CPERL’s mission to advance equitable patient-centered care and support pediatric rehabilitation. Not only does CPERL align with my professional goal by providing me with holistic research experience focused on patient populations and services that I may partner with in the future, but I also get to be a part of a great team that emphasizes mentorship, teamwork, and innovation.
What do you work on in CPERL?
As an intern, my primary responsibilities include supporting the team with participant recruitment, as well as assisting with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis to support the lab’s ongoing research projects.
What are your favorite ways to occupy yourself, and what does it mean for you to participate in these activities?
I enjoy playing the piano and cello as a way to stay creative and disciplined. I also enjoy going on long walks and spending time with my family and friends, which allows me to clear my mind, stay grounded, and appreciate the connections I make with others.