Faculty/Staff Directory
Dr. Karen McWaters
478.934.7480
Assistant Professor
Credentials: OTD, OTR/L
| Office Hours: | M/W: 11:00 am -1:00 pm T/Th: 4:00-6:00 pm |
| Locations: (Campus & Office) |
|
| Biography: | Karen McWaters, OTD, OT/M, OTR/L, earned her graduated from Georgia State University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy, and she completed the Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) program at the Medical University of South Carolina. She has extensive clinical experience as a pediatric OT specifically related to complex trauma, foster/adoptive children, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and visual perceptual challenges. She holds advanced certifications in these areas of practice. As a pediatric OT, She loves that this field enables partnerships with families to meet each child’s unique needs and harnesses the power of relationships to impact each kid’s life. |
| Syllabi: | |
| Teaching and Research Interests: | My approach to education and teaching is focused on inspiration and engagement of the learners. Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a renowned neurodevelopmental psychologist, encapsulated learning with the visual analogy of the “gleam in the eye” to highlight the characteristic excitation of thought and interpersonal bond formed over a novel shared idea or experience. As a teacher, I view these components (inspiration and engagement) as the primary values of all my classes. I believe learning viewed from a neuroplastic perspective and informed by humanistic, cognitive and social theories, requires interaction, motivation, and connection. My scholarly activities involve three dimensions: interdisciplinary collaboration, research regarding foster care and the role of OT, and innovative scholarly activities regarding the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Each of these branches involves presentations or publications at local, regional, and national levels. |
| Courses: | OTMS 5120 - Neuroscience Foundations for Occupational Therapy and Lab https://mga.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2025-2026/the-graduate-school-academic-catalog-2025-2026/courses/otms-occupational-therapy/5000/otms-5120 OTMS 5140 - Evidence Based Practice and Research I https://mga.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2025-2026/the-graduate-school-academic-catalog-2025-2026/courses/otms-occupational-therapy/5000/otms-5140 OTMS 5220 - Emerging and Non-traditional Practice https://mga.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2025-2026/the-graduate-school-academic-catalog-2025-2026/programs/school-of-health-science/department-of-rehabilitation-science-and-fitness/master-of-science-in-occupational-therapy-bridge-program |
| Education: (All institutions attended and degrees or credentials earned) | Medical University of South Carolina Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Capstone: Scoping Review of Healthcare Utilization in Foster Care Children Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia Masters of Occupational Therapy Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Bachelor of Science in Health Science Concentration: Pre-professional Health Studies |
| CV: | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xu-QflmtscxYZZXsmhM6ruJijajnOoVg/view?usp=sharing |
| Professional Experience: | I have worked as an occupational therapist across the lifespan with a special clinical interest and expertise with children and youth. I have pursued additional clinical training and certifications in the areas of trauma-informed care, pediatric mental health, sensory processing, vision, and social-emotional development. I have worked in community-based, clinic-based, and school-based settings. Teaching has been a part of my life since a young age with peer-to-peer tutoring. I have served as a clinical instructor for clinical education and training as well as serving in multiple full-time faculty academic roles. I served as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator with administrative, teaching, and clinical education responsibilities. In faculty appointments, my teaching experience centers on courses related to neuroscience, development and kinesiology, pathophysiology, assessment and intervention techniques across multiple areas of practice (pediatrics, assistive technology, mental health), and mentored research projects. Please see my research and teaching interest section above for more information. |
| Publications and Scholarships: (Last 5 Years) | Peer Reviewed Publications Lorio, A. K., McWaters, K., Irwin, J., Smelser, D., & Zimmerman, R. D. (2025, August 5). Critical confidence and collaboration: Escaping the ICU through interprofessional teamwork. Journal of Interprofessional Care. (Manuscript submitted for publication). McWaters, K., Andresen, C., and McGloon, K. (2025, May 31). Scoping Review of Health Care Needs and Service Utilization in Foster Care. Children and Youth Services Review. (Under review). Peer Reviewed National Presentations Lorio, A.K., McWaters, K., Irwin, J., Smelser, D., Zimmerman, R. Critical Confidence and Collaboration: Escaping the ICU through Interprofessional Teamwork. Accepted for presentation APTA 2026 Combined Sections Meeting, February 13, 2026, Anaheim, Ca. Forward, E., & McWaters, K. (November 18, 2023). Embodied cognition and language development: The use of play in language therapy. Presentation, The American Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. Invited Presentations McWaters, K. (January 17, 2023). Clinical applications of trauma-sensitive practice in pediatrics. Family Services Staff Professional Development Presentations, Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Atlanta, GA. McWaters, K. (November 8, 2023). Clinical applications of trauma-sensitive practice in pediatrics. Teacher Professional Development Presentations, Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Atlanta, GA. Forward, E. & McWaters, K. (May 21, 2023) Collaborative case studies in ASD for OT/SLP: Lessons from the clinic. Invited presentation, The MedSLP Interdisciplinary Summit, online. Forward, E. & McWaters, K. (April 2023). Meaning making in play: An interdisciplinary lens for development. Invited presentation. Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, King of Prussia, PA. Professional Presentations McWaters, K. (October 25th, 2025). Embodied Cognition: Reading and Responding to Cues of Regulation and Meaning Making Through Occupation. Georgia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Helen, GA. Forward, E., McWaters, K. (October 25th, 2025). Meaning Making in Play: Using the DIRFloortime® model to support development of representational praxis and symbolic language. International Council on Disability and Learning Virutal Conference, Online. McWaters, K. (October 19, 2024). Conversations that matter: Occupational therapy in foster care - what is our scope of practice? Presentation, The Georgia Occupational Therapy Association Annu |
| Professional Affiliations: | Georgia State Board of Professional Licensing - Licensed Occupational Therapist (License #OT008862) South Carolina State Board of Occupational Therapy - Licensed Occupational Therapist (License #5479) National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) - Occupational Therapist Registered (Certification # 415807) American Occupational Therapy Association - Member |
| Organizations: | Georgia Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Consortium |
| Awards and Honors: | Craig Velozo Award for Rising Clinician-Scholar, Medical University of South Carolina, May 2024 |
If a person's information is incorrect, they will need to update their individual profile.
If a person is in the wrong department, or a new employee has not been added or a former employee is still listed email Human Resources
To suggest updates to a department's contact information (main department phone # or tollfree number, main department email, or department location) email Web Admin
Please note that some changes to the directory can take up to 12 hours to appear in all directory listings.