Kari Meeks
Columbus
Summary
Pediatric Occupational Therapist with 10+ years of experience supporting daily clinical operations, staff development, and program implementation within a large pediatric hospital system. Board-Certified in Pediatrics with demonstrated strengths in interdisciplinary collaboration, performance improvement, onboarding and mentoring staff, and advancing quality, family-centered care. Proven ability to balance direct clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, regulatory compliance, and strategic initiatives.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, OH
01.2015 - Current
- Support daily clinical operations through adherence to departmental policies, documentation standards, and regulatory requirements while maintaining a full clinical caseload.
- Conduct comprehensive OT and feeding evaluations using standardized assessments, caregiver interviews, and clinical observation to establish high-quality, family-centered plans of care.
- Provide in-person and telehealth intervention for children with complex developmental, medical, and mental health diagnoses.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (OT, SLP, PT, physicians, behavioral health, and specialty clinics) to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care.
- Served as an OT/SLP co-treatment clinician to support functional communication, sensory-motor integration, and use of speech-generating devices.
- Participate in departmental performance improvement through peer chart reviews, outcome tracking, and quality assurance initiatives.
- Maintain accurate, compliant documentation in EPIC, including evaluations, daily notes, discharge summaries, and billing.
- Leadership, Education, and Program Development (Concurrent Roles) - Strategic Partners OT Co-Chair, collaborating with leadership to support departmental initiatives, staff engagement, and operational priorities. - Member of the Strategic Congress for Clinical Therapies, serving as a liaison between frontline clinicians and organizational leadership. - Onboarding partner for new hires, assisting with recruitment support, initial training, competency development, and departmental orientation. - Fieldwork Educator for Level I and II students as well a doctoral capstone students; mentor first-time fieldwork educators and assist with development of training materials. - Mental Health Peer Coach, providing clinical guidance and education to staff using AOTA Mental Health and Birth–5 Practice Guidelines. - Collaborated on planning, development, and rollout of a new intensive OT/SLP co-treatment model of care, including creation of clinical materials and workflows. - Contributed to development of outcome measures and clinical guidelines for outpatient pediatric feeding group programming. - Developed standardized documentation templates to improve continuity of care, efficiency, and quality across providers.
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist
Nationwide Children's Hospital
01.2022 - 03.2025
- Complete initial evaluations and provide intervention for pediatric and young adult patients with cardiopulmonary diagnoses including cystic fibrosis, asthma, congenital heart defects, post-COVID conditions, diabetes, sleep apnea, and transplant-related conditions.
- Deliver therapy across a 6-week rehabilitative model to improve endurance, occupational performance, and quality of life.
Contingent Inpatient Occupational Therapist
02.2017 - 12.2018
- Provided acute care and inpatient rehabilitation coverage on weekdays and weekends as needed.
Homecare Occupational Therapist
01.2015 - 07.2018
- Completed in-home evaluations, treatments, comprehensive assessments, and 90-day recertifications as part of the homecare therapy team.
Education
Master of Occupational Therapy -
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA06.2014
Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV05.2012
SELECTED LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS
- Support departmental operations through policy adherence, documentation standards, onboarding processes, and promotion of clinical consistency across providers.
- Serve in formal leadership and liaison roles as Strategic Partners OT Co-Chair and member of the Strategic Congress for Clinical Therapies, representing frontline clinician perspectives in operational and strategic discussions.
- Contribute to planning, development, and implementation of interdisciplinary programs and models of care, including intensive OT/SLP co-treatment initiatives and outpatient feeding group programming.
- Support staff development through onboarding, mentorship, fieldwork education, and peer coaching, promoting evidence-based practice, professional growth, and clinical confidence.
- Participate in departmental quality, compliance, and performance improvement initiatives, including peer chart reviews, documentation audits, and outcome tracking.
- Provide clinical leadership for complex and high-acuity cases through interdisciplinary collaboration, family-centered decision-making, and mentorship of colleagues.
Certification
- Occupational Therapist, Ohio – OT.008824
- NBCOT Certification – #332439
- AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP) – December 2024–Present
- Basic Life Support (AHA) – Valid through November 2026
LEADERSHIP, SUPERVISION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Strategic Partners OT Co-Chair, Nationwide Children’s Hospital – January 2024–Present
- Member, Strategic Congress for Clinical Therapies – January 2024–Present
- Leadership Essentials: Core Characteristics and Techniques – January 2024
- Leadership Calibration: Growing Our Own – September 2024
- Performing Under Pressure – September 2024
- AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program – February 2022
Timeline
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist
Nationwide Children's Hospital
01.2022 - 03.2025
Contingent Inpatient Occupational Therapist
02.2017 - 12.2018
Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
01.2015 - Current
Homecare Occupational Therapist
01.2015 - 07.2018
Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Master of Occupational Therapy -
Chatham University