As Chief Medical Officer and Vice President, Dr. Watkins oversees all medical-related aspects for the Kroger Co. This includes enterprise-wide leadership through the development and implementation of clinical programs, associate benefit design, and the strategic direction for all health and wellness solutions including emerging digital and tele-health initiatives.
Dr. Watkins has a bold and passionate commitment for delivering quality healthcare by combining health, wellness and nutrition solution with a focus on simplifying the decision-making process for patients, customers, and employers in a rapidly changing healthcare ecosystem. With more than 2220 Retail Pharmacies and 220+ Retail Clinic locations his team is committed to improving the health of the communities they serve.
Prior to joining the leadership team at The Little Clinic, he served in various physician leadership roles with Concentra Health Services. Most recently, in his role as National Medical Director- Clinical Account Management, he provided strategic operational and clinical program development to major employers across the country.
Dr. Watkins earned his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN on a U.S. Navy scholarship. After training, he served almost exclusively with the U.S. Marines, where he was twice awarded the Navy Commendation Medal (2) in direct support of combat operations while assigned in Iraq. Dr. Watkins is board certified in Occupational & Environmental Medicine and earned distinction as a Fellow of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and American College of Physician Executives. He is a Tennessee area board member of the American Cancer Society and executive board member of the Convenient Care Association. He is also Adjunct Clinical Faculty in the Division of Occupational Medicine/Family Medicine at Meharry Medical College and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy.