She completed her Doctorate of Medicine at Georgetown University in 1982, and internship at Bryn Mawr Hospital in PA. She completed Ophthalmology Residency at Georgetown University in 1987. 

Other experiences include Public Health Service duty as a primary health care physician in Hancock MD, providing general care for migrant orchard workers and local indigent patients. Dr. McAteer has worked in Haiti as an ophthalmologist, providing care in Port au Prince and Leogone. She also served four years of active duty as a Commissioned Officer in the Indian Health Service where she provided ophthalmology care on the Native American reservations in Arizona.  Since 1987 Dr. McAteer has continued to provide eye care for The Northern Virginia Training Center, a residential facility serving people with intellectual and related disabilities.

Dr. McAteer is regularly included in Washington’s Top Doctors in Northern Virginia in  Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Consumers’ Checkbook, The Washington Post Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Washington ,DC -Baltimore- Northern Virginia Super Doctors, and on Angie’s List.