Profile

Dr. Antay Waters is an assistant professor & simulation coordinator at East Texas Baptist University and an OB hospitalist in northeast Texas. She is a member of the Texas Perinatal Advisory Council, the primary advisory body to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services on the state’s perinatal care system. As the only advanced practice nurse on the Council, Dr. Waters emphasizes patient-centered approaches that respect diverse backgrounds and beliefs. This work takes on particular significance given Texas’s maternal health challenges, especially in rural and underserved communities. Her PhD dissertation research on maternity care deserts has provided data to strengthen her advocacy within the Council. Dr. Waters also serves as one of the first Texas AIM Implementation Mentors, creating a comprehensive approach to maternal healthcare improvement. This dual perspective has allowed her to bridge policy and practice – seeing how recommendations translate into real-world care and bringing implementation insights back to policy discussions. Dr. Waters continues a trajectory of research and policy work, addressing barriers and facilitators to equitable perinatal care, with the goal of developing a predictive model for identifying and addressing disparities in women’s health outcomes and a maternity care network to serve East Texas. Dr. Waters is the Founding President of Piney Woods Advanced Practice Nurses Association and active in Texas Nurse Practitioners and Sigma.