Rhonda Watkins, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Orthopaedic Surgery
School of Medicine

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Watkins received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology from the University of California Los Angeles, where she also completed her Master’s degree in Public Health. She subsequently earned a Diploma of Higher Education in Medical Sciences at Northumbria University, and later earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She then completed her pediatric residency training through University of California San Francisco Fresno. Most recently, Dr. Watkins completed fellowship training in Primary Care Sports Medicine through Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital.

During her fellowship in Boston, Dr. Watkins served as team physician for Northeastern University; team physician for Middlesex High School; and consulting physician for Boston Ballet School. Additionally, she provided medical coverage for several local events, including the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, the Boston Ballet Nutcracker, the BAA Half Marathon and the Emmanuel College pre-participation physicals.

As an athlete, Dr. Watkins had an extraordinary career in track and field. She was long jumper and high jumper on the UCLA Track and Field team, for which she was also NCAA Champion and several time All-American. Dr. Watkins was also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Athletic Team, for which she competed in multiple international track and field meets during this time, including the 2008 Olympics. She holds her team’s National Record Holder for Long Jump.

At UCSF, Dr. Watkins is primarily based at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland as well as the UCSF Pediatric Clinic in Walnut Creek. She delights in helping local athletes in their quest to return to sport after injury. She has also has particular interests in advancing pediatric MSK education, running injuries and youth injury prevention. She currently serves as team physician for Burton high school and provides event coverage for several local sporting events.