SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2024 -- The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is pleased to share: PERSPECTIVES: My Olympic Reflections, an article in the UCSF Magazine's Summer2024 issue that dives into Dr. Rhonda Watkins' incredible journey representing Trinidad & Tobago in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Read her inspiring story in UCSF Magazine's Summer 2024 issue.
About Rhonda Watkins, MD MPH
Dr. Rhonda Watkins is a primary care sports medicine doctor. As a former track-and-field Olympian, she draws on her personal experiences with athletic training and injuries to shape the care she provides. She treats children and young adults with a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Her areas of particular interest include injury prevention, fractures, bone health and running injuries.
Watkins' research interests include injury prevention, gait retraining and the impact of social media on athletes.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Watkins earned her medical degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada. She completed a residency in pediatrics at UCSF and a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at Boston Children's Hospital. During her fellowship, she served as team doctor for Northeastern University and Middlesex School, and as consulting doctor for Boston Ballet School. She also provided medical coverage for many local events, including the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Boston Ballet's "The Nutcracker," the BAA Half Marathon and pre-participation physical exams at Emmanuel College. She has a master's degree in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles.
As an athlete, Watkins had an extraordinary career in track and field. She was a long jumper and high jumper on UCLA's track-and-field team, becoming an NCAA champion and several-time All-American. As a member of Trinidad and Tobago's national athletic team, she competed in multiple international track-and-field meets, including the 2008 Summer Olympics. She holds her team's national record for the long jump.