Chih-Ying Li

Chih-Ying Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Health Professions and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities. She serves as the Interim Level II Fieldwork Coordinator and is a NIH-supported career development awardee (K01HD101589). Dr. Li leads the IMPACT Lab, focusing on health services research in post-acute rehabilitation.

• Education: Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from National Taiwan University; PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science from Medical University of South Carolina.

Research Interests: Health services research, learning health systems, and value-based care in post-acute rehabilitation. The IMPACT Lab emphasizes:

• Value-Based Care: Optimizing care quality while reducing costs.
• Precision Medicine: Tailoring interventions to patient-specific needs.
• Learning Health System: Leveraging real-world data for clinical decision-making.

Scientific Awards:

• 2021 Early Career Research Excellence Award (American Occupational Therapy Foundation)
• 2022 Elite Reviewer (Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
• 2024 Honorary Member, Nu Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon (Occupational Therapy Honor Society)

Grants: Principal Investigator for NIH, American Occupational Therapy Foundation, and UTMB RCMAR grants examining functional trajectories, home health OT intensity, and cognitive demand in aging populations.

Labs & Collaborations: The IMPACT Lab integrates Medicare claims, EHR data (e.g., TriNetX), and patient engagement to inform clinical practice and healthcare policy. Prospective students can participate in empirical studies using quantitative/qualitative methods or systematic reviews.