Katherine McDonald

Katherine (Katie) McDonald is the associate vice president for research at Syracuse University. A widely-published researcher, Katie uses socioecological theory and community-engaged research to promote inclusion and address disparities experienced by individuals with disabilities. Her work focuses on the ethical, legal and social implications of research involving adults with developmental disabilities, and strategies to advance models and practices of community-engaged research with adults with developmental disabilities. With Ariel Schwartz, Katie created Research Ethics for All, accessible research ethics education for community research partners with developmental disabilities.

Since joining Syracuse in 2011, Katie has served in a variety of leadership roles, including professor of public health, senior associate dean for research and administration in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, chair of the Public Health Department, and chair of the University’s Institutional Review Board. She is a faculty fellow at the Aging Studies Institute, the Burton Blatt Institute, the Consortium for Culture and Medicine and in disability studies, and is a research affiliate at the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health.

Katie is a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and serves on the editorial board of Autism in Adulthood.

In her role as associate vice president for research, Katie works to support faculty research, strengthen mentoring and identify strategic opportunities to advance Syracuse University’s research enterprise.

"Research Ethics for All: Building Capacity via Topic Expansion and National Adoption", Sponsored by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

"Equipped to Engage: A Toolkit to Enhance Engagement of Adults with Intellectual Disability in PCOR and CE", Sponsored by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

"ADA Participation Action Research Consortium (ADA PARC)", Sponsored by National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research/DHHS.

"Including Adults with Intellectual Disability in Precision Medicine Research Project ENGAGE", Sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/DHHS.

"Research Ethics for All: Building the Research Capacity of Patient Stakeholders with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities via an Accessible Research Ethics Training", Sponsored by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

"Understanding and Supporting Pregnancy Decision-Making among Women with Developmental Disabilities that Affect Cognition (DD-C)", Sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/DHHS.

"REU: Training Diverse Undergraduate Teams of Veterans and Non-Veterans to Conduct Trauma Research with Veterans:Collaborative Research", Sponsored by National Science Foundation.

"Americans with Disabilities Act Participation Action Research Consortium (ADA PARC): Advancing Participation Equity for People with Disabilities", Sponsored by Department of Health & Human Services.

"Measuring Health, Function, and Social Well-Being in Adults on the Autism Spectrum", Sponsored by National Institute on Health/National Institute on Mental Health.

• Journal Articles
  • Schwartz, A. E., McDonald, K. E., "Research ethics for all: Development of a social-behavioral research ethics education program for community research partners with developmental disabilities." Disability and health journal, 2025.
  • McDonald, K. E., Schwartz, A. E., Dinerstein, R., Olick, R. and Sabatello, M., "Responsible inclusion: A systematic review of consent to social-behavioral research with adults with intellectual disability in the US." Disability and Health Journal, 2024.
  • McDonald, K. E., Schwartz, A. E., Dinerstein, R., Olick, R. and Sabatello, M., "Responsible inclusion: A systematic review of consent to social-behavioral research with adults with intellectual disability in the US." Disability and Health Journal, 2024.
  • Walia, B., McDonald, K. E., Hammel, J., Frieden, L., Morris, M., Whaley, B. and Nguyen, V., "Economic equity and people with disabilities: Development and characterization of a novel index." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 2024.
  • McDonald, K. E., "Invisible: People with Disability and (In)equity in Precision Medicine Research." The American Journal of Bioethics, 2024.
  • Sabatello, M., McDonald, K. E., "Invisible: People with Disability and (In)equity in Precision Medicine Research." The American journal of bioethics : AJOB, 2024.
  • Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Balcazar, F., Labbé, D., McDonald, K. E., Keys, C., Ritzler, T., Anderson, S. and Agner, J., "Disability rights and empowerment: Reflections on AJCP research and a call to action." American Journal of Community Psychology, 2023.
  • Raymaker, D., Sharer, M., Maslak, J., Powers, L., McDonald, K. E., Kapp, K., Moura, I. and Nocolaidis, C., ""[I] don't wanna just be like a cog in the machine:" Narratives of Autism and Skilled Employment." Autism, 2023.
  • Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Balcazar, F., Labbe, D., McDonald, K. E., Keys, C., Taylor-Ritzler, T., Anderson, S. M. and Agner, J., "Disability rights and empowerment: Reflections on AJCP research and a call to action." American journal of community psychology, 2023.
  • Walia, B., McDonald, K. E., Hammel, J., Morris, M., Waley, B. and Friedan, L., "Economic equity and people with disabilities: Development and characterization of a novel index." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 2023.
  • McDonald, K. E., Schwartz, A. E., Feldman, M. F., Nelis, T. and Raymaker, D. M., "A Call-In for Allyship and Anti-Ableism in Intellectual Disability Research." American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2023.
  • McDonald, K. E., "A Call-In for Allyship and Anti-Ableism in Intellectual Disability Research." American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2023.
  • McDonald, K. E., ""[I] don't wanna just be like a cog in the machine"." In Autism. , 2023.
  • Raymaker, D. M., Sharer, M., Maslak, J., Powers, L. E., McDonald, K. E., Kapp, S. K., Moura, I., Wallington, A. F. and Nicolaidis, C., ""[I] don't wanna just be like a cog in the machine": Narratives of autism and skilled employment.." Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2023.
  • Lund, E. M., Hughes, R. B., McDonald, K. E., Leotti, S., Katz, M. R., Beers, L. M. and Nicolaidis, C., "Creating academic-community partnerships to jointly enhance advocacy and research on violence and disability: Two case examples." Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2022.
  • McDonald, K. E., Schwartz, A. E. and Sabatello, M., "Eligibility criteria in clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health: Can adults with intellectual disability get in?." Disability and Health Journal, 2022.
  • McDonald, K. E., Gibbons, C., Conroy, N. and Olick, R., "Facilitating the inclusion of adults with intellectual disability as direct respondents in research: Strategies for fostering trust, respect, accessibility, and engagement." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2022.
  • Landes, S. D., Wilmoth, J. M., McDonald, K. E. and Smith, A. N., "Racial/ethnic Inequities in Age at Death Among Adults with/without Intellectual and Developmental Disability." Preventive Medicine, 2022.
  • McDonald, K. E., "Eligibility criteria in NIH-funded clinical trials." Disability and Health Journal, 2022.
  • McDonald, K. E., Schwartz, A. E. and Sabatello, M., "Eligibility criteria in NIH-funded clinical trials: Can adults with intellectual disability get in?." Disability and health journal, 2022.
  • Lund, E. M., Hughes, R. B., McDonald, K. E., Leotti, S., Katz, M. R., Beers, L. M. and Nicolaidis, C., "Creating academic-community partnerships to jointly enhance advocacy and research on violence and disability: Two case examples.." Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2022.
  • Landes, S. D., Wilmoth, J. M., McDonald, K. E. and Smith, A. N., "Racial-ethnic inequities in age at death among adults with/without intellectual and developmental disability in the United States.." Preventive medicine, 2022.
  • McDonald, K. E., Gibbons, C., Conroy, N. and Olick, R. S., "Facilitating the inclusion of adults with intellectual disability as direct respondents in research: Strategies for fostering trust, respect, accessibility and engagement." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2022.
  • Conroy, N., McDonald, K. E. and Olick, R., "A survey study of the attitudes and experiences of adults with intellectual disability regarding participation in research." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2021.
  • Kirby, A., McDonald, K. E., Cusack, J., Maddox, B., Mangan, C., Morgan, L., Roux, A., Singhal, N. and Zener, D., "An expert discussion on knowledge translation in autism in adulthood research." Autism in Adulthood, 2021.
  • Kirby, A., McDonald, K. E., "The state of the science on autism in adulthood: Building an evidence base for change." Autism in Adulthood, 2021.
  • McDonald, K. E., "Evidence of continued reduction in the age?at?death disparity between adults with and without intellectual and/or developmental disabilities." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2021.
  • Landes, S. D., McDonald, K. E., Wilmoth, J. M. and Carter Grosso, E., "Evidence of continued reduction in the age‐at‐death disparity between adults with and without intellectual and/or developmental disabilities." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2021.
  • Hughes, R., Robinson-Whelen, S., Goe, R., Schwartz, S., Cesal, L., Garner, K., Arnold, C., Hunt, T. and McDonald, K. E., ""I really want people to use our work to be safe"… Using participatory research to develop a safety intervention for adults with intellectual disability." Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 2020.
  • Angell, A. M., Goodman, L., Walker, H. R., McDonald, K. E., Kraus, L. E., Elms, E. H., Frieden, L., Sheth, A. J. and Hammel, J., ""Starting to live a life": Understanding full participation for people with disabilities after institutionalization." American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2020.
  • Schwartz, A. E., Kramer, J. M., Cohn, E. S. and McDonald, K. E., ""That felt like real engagement": Fostering and maintaining inclusive research collaborations with individuals with intellectual disability." Qualitative Health Research, 2020.
  • Bezyak, J., Sabell, S., Hammel, J., Friedan, L. and McDonald, K. E., "Community participation and public transportation barriers experienced by people with disabilities." Disability and Rehabilitation, 2020.
  • Landes, S. D., Turk, M., Formica, M., McDonald, K. E. and Stevens, D., "COVID-19 outcomes among people with intellectual and developmental disability living in residential group homes in New York State." Disability and Health Journal, 2020.
  • Nicolaidis, C., Raymaker, D., McDonald, K. E., Lund, E., Leotti, S., Kapp, S., Katz, M., Beers, L., Kripke, C., Maslak, J., Hunter, M. and Zhen, K., "Creating accessible survey instruments for use with autistic adults and people with intellectual disability: lessons learned and recommendations." Autism in Adulthood, 2020.
  • Sabatello, M., Blankmayer-Burke, T., McDonald, K. E. and Applebaum, P., "Disability, ethics and health care in the Covid-19 pandemic." American Journal of Public Health, 2020.
  • Hughes, R. B., Robinson-Whelen, S., Davis, L. A., Meadours, J., Kincaid, O., Howard, L., Millin, M., Schwartz, M. A. and McDonald, K. E., "Evaluation of a safety awareness group program for adults with intellectual disability." American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2020.
  • Landes, S. D., McDonald, K. E., Wilmoth, J. M. and Grosso, E., "Evidence of continued reduction in the age-at-death disparity between adults with and without intellectual and/or developmental disabilities." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2020.
  • Sabatello, M., Landes, S. D. and McDonald, K. E., "People with disabilities in Covid-19: Fixing our priorities." American Journal of Bioethics, 2020.
  • Schwartz, A. E., Kramer, J. M., Rogers, E. S., McDonald, K. E. and Cohn, E. S., "Stakeholder?driven approach to developing a peer mentoring intervention for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2020.
  • Bezyak, J. L., Sabella, S., Hammel, J., McDonald, K. E., Jones, R. A. and Barton, D., "Community participation and public transportation barriers experienced by people with disabilities.." Disability and rehabilitation, 2020.
  • Sabatello, M., Burke, T. B., McDonald, K. E. and Appelbaum, P. S., "Disability, Ethics, and Health Care in the COVID-19 Pandemic." American Journal of Public Health, 2020.
  • Hughes, R. B., Robinson-Whelen, S., Goe, R., Schwartz, M., Cesal, L., Garner, K. B., Arnold, K., Hunt, T. and McDonald, K. E., ""I really want people to use our work to be safe"…Using participatory research to develop a safety intervention for adults with intellectual disability.." Journal of intellectual disabilities : JOID, 2020.
  • Sabatello, M., Landes, S. D. and McDonald, K. E., "People With Disabilities in COVID-19: Fixing Our Priorities." The American Journal of Bioethics, 2020.
  • Hughes, R. B., Robinson-Whelen, S., Davis, L. A., Meadours, J., Kincaid, O., Howard, L., Millin, M., Schwartz, M. and McDonald, K. E., "Evaluation of a Safety Awareness Group Program for Adults With Intellectual Disability." American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2020.
  • Nicolaidis, C., Raymaker, D. M., McDonald, K. E., Lund, E. M., Leotti, S., Kapp, S. K., Katz, M., Beers, L. M., Kripke, C., Maslak, J., Hunter, M. and Zhen, K. Y., "Creating Accessible Survey Instruments for Use with Autistic Adults and People with Intellectual Disability: Lessons Learned and Recommendations." Autism in Adulthood, 2020.
• Dataset
  • McDonald, K. E., Kidney, C. A., Nelms, S., Newton, A. L., Perry, A. W. and Nash, K., "There is No Black or White: Asking Adults with Intellectual Disability about Ethical Research Practices." In PsycEXTRA Dataset. American Psychological Association (APA), 2009.
• Editorial
  • McDonald, K. E., "The State of the Science on Autism in Adulthood." Autism in Adulthood, 2021.

Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence, Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction, Syracuse University (2024)

Research Award, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2023)

Faculty of the Year Award for Excellence in Research, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Syracuse University (2017)

Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Disability and Health Journal (2017)

Fellow, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) (2013)