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Keara Marie McNair, MS/BS OT, OTR/L

Department : Rehabilitation And Movement Sciences
Program/Division : Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Academic Title: RBHS Lecturer

Office Address:

Email: keara.mcnair@rutgers.edu

Education
Degree	Degree Source	Year Awarded
MS/BS OT, OTR/L		2011

Publications
Title	Authors	Where and When
Predicting Early Mortality in the Inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Population Using Admission Performance Status Score	McNair, K; Dallman, A; Kirshblum, S; Stubblefield, M.D.	(2025) American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002754
Using constructs from the Diffusion of Innovation theory and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to evaluate and implement rehabilitation technology in neurologic rehabilitation: A commentary	Bonner, S., & McNair, K.	(2025) Assistive Technology; doi:10.1080/10400435.2025.2498657
Using Performance Status to Identify Risk of Acute Care Transfer in Inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation.	McNair, K., Botticello, A., & Stubblefield, M. D.	(2024) Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 105(5), 947–952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.12.016
Translation of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) for use in inpatient cancer rehabilitation	McNair, K., Zeitlin, D., Slivka, A. M., Lequerica, A. H., & Stubblefield, M. D.	(2023) PM&R, 15(1), 65–68. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12741

Research
Research Interests
McNair's efforts centralize around effective communication and the therapeutic relationship as instrumental to OT practice across settings. Her previous research focused on comfort and confidence in working with individuals with cancer, understanding factors relating to acute care discharge and early death in individuals with cancer in the inpatient setting, and evidence-based practice for individuals with acute and chronic stroke. Her current research and PhD scope focuses on development and implementation of community-based programs for young adults with SCI to support the transition to adulthood.

Research Grants
Title	Sponsor	Effective Dates	Role
True Grit SCI: A Residential Summer Camp for Young Adults with Spinal Cord Injury to Support the Transition to Adulthood	Rutgers Health-IDEA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy Innovation Grants	August 2024-July 2025	Principle Investigator

BioSketch
Title	Details
McNair bio 5/30/25	Keara McNair has practiced occupational therapy for over fourteen years, primarily working in the inpatient rehabilitation setting, with specialization in spinal cord injury and complex medical rehabilitation. McNair completed her BS and MS in occupational therapy in 2011 and is currently pursuing her PhD in Health Sciences with a concentration in health professions leadership. She currently serves as the doctoral capstone manager within Rutgers University's Occupational Therapy Doctorate program as well as a per diem occupational therapist advanced clinical specialist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. McNair obtained Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in 2017 and the advanced certification of Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) in 2019. McNair is also an active member and Vice Chair of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Education Committee and and active member and Secretary of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) SCI-ISIG. She has presented and published nationally and internationally on various topics over the last decade, particularly in the field of spinal cord injury and cancer rehabilitation, with a specific focus on systems-level data-driven decision making. McNair's current research focuses on development and implementation of community-based rehabilitation models for young adults with spinal cord injury to support the transition to adulthood.

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