Tim McKula

About Me

Tim McKula is responsible for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s research business operations, which encompass the Office of Research Administration, as well as financial and strategic oversight of the organization’s $100M grant portfolio. In this newly created position, Tim leverages his deep financial and operations skillset to propel the organization’s research engine toward its aggressive goals for strategic growth in sponsored research.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab maintains the largest research enterprise of its kind in the United States, and arguably the world. In his role as Vice President, Chief of Research Operations, Tim is establishing best practices for pre- and post-award management of the organization’s more than 130 active grants.

Tim has more than 30 years’ leadership experience in information technology, business and management consulting in a wide range of industries — including a primary focus in healthcare information services. His particular expertise is in the establishment of IT strategies, management of operations, establishment of program management offices and program management of new business ventures.

Previously, Tim served as Chief Information Officer at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) for nearly 15 years. Upon RIC’s transition to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in March 2017, he was promoted to his current leadership role.

His promotion to Vice President of Research Operations was aligned with requisite organizational restructuring upon opening the new facility. Throughout the course of the 10-year, new-hospital project, Tim led as “IT architect” for the development of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s complex IT infrastructure, as well as for the integration of the various software platforms. Tim and his team supported everything from wireless access points to market-leading software systems embedded into the clinical environment.

Tim earned his BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.