An ophthalmologist, healthcare administrator and leader, Dr. Watkins leads Cooley Dickinson Hospital in improving and modernizing its facilities, including a $3 million renovation of the Childbirth Center. The first African American female president and COO of a Mass General Brigham hospital, she has also helmed the hospital’s $26 million fundraising campaign to renovate the emergency department, which began construction in 2023. Under her leadership, Cooley Dickinson has earned a variety of awards and designations, including the Top Hospital Award for Quality and Safety and an “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation from Human Rights Campaign, and more. Most recently, the hospital was recognized by The Women’s Edge as one of the top women-led businesses, ranking No. 21 out of 100 businesses in Massachusetts.
