Dr. Watkins received her Bachelors of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana, her Medical Degree from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine and her Masters of Public Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with an emphasis on healthcare and hospital policy and management.

Dr. Watkins completed her residency in General Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School where she served as an Assistant Chief Resident.

She trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital combined program of Columbia and Cornell Universities. Dr. Watkins held the position as Chief Resident for this program and participated in research during her fellowship.

Subsequent to her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training, she completed a two year public psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University/NYSPI. Continuing at Columbia as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Watkins worked in the School-Based Mental Health Program and served as the Interim Assistant Director of Training, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Program where she was involved in the design and administration of didactic curricula and clinical rotations. She taught and supervised medical students, general residents and fellows in child and adolescent psychiatry.