Therapeutic Systems

Jane Koomar, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Koomar is the owner and co-founder of OTA-Watertown and the President of the Board of the Spiral Foundation; both organizations deal with sensory integration. She was formerly an assistant professor in occupational therapy at Boston University and completed her doctoral studies in developmental psychology there. In 1984, she studied with Dr. Jean Ayres, who developed the theory of sensory integration. Dr. Koomar is a nationally recognized authority on sensory processing disorder and one of the premier researchers.

Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L

Teresa is the Clinical Director of OTA-Watertown and oversees the coordinators of the clinics specialties which include sensory integration interventions. Dr. May-Benson is a well-known lecturer on sensory integration theory and intervention and has a special interest in and extensive experience with autism. Dr. May-Benson, like her colleague Dr. Koomar, is considered a leading expert and author on sensory integration.

Tina Champagne, MEd, OTR/L

Tina received her BS and M.Ed. degrees from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. She is an independent consultant and the occupational therapist and OT program coordinator for the Center for Human Development. She enjoys creating and implementing innovative programs using a variety of service delivery models. Her most recent initiatives include the creation of nurturing and healing treatment systems of care, the application of nonlinear dynamic systems theory to clinical practice and organizational change, and establishing a foundation of research in these areas. Tina is currently an adjunct professor for the American International College occupational therapy program and guest lectures for occupational therapy and rehabilitation programs. She developed and maintains the OT Innovations for Psychosocial Practice networking website and is the owner and chief consultant of Champagne Conferences & Consultation.

Sundar Krishnamurty, PhD

Dr. Krishnamurty is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the co-inventor of the DeePAD technology.  Dr. Krishnamurty was founder Brian Mullen’s dissertation chair and has been involved with developing assistive technologies for much of his career.  Dr. Krishnamurty’s research is focused on decision based design, engineering ontologies, and health care technology.  He is the director of the National Science Foundation funded UMass Center for e-Design.  He holds a BS from the Indian Institute of Technology, an MS from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin.