Dr. Wilkinson was born and raised in the small Mississippi Gulf Coast town of Bay St. Louis. She graduated with Highest Honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. She then obtained her medical degree from the University of Mississippi in Jackson, MS. When looking for a program to do her Pediatric Residency training, she was excited to learn that Pensacola, Florida, well known to her from years of family summer vacations at the beach, had a pediatric program at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, now known as The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. She completed her residency in Pensacola, serving as Chief Resident during her third year of training. Dr. Wilkinson was thrilled to be offered a faculty position upon graduation and she and her husband decided to make Pensacola home. She has five children and seven grandchildren and enjoys reading historical fiction, puzzles, and is very competitive at board games! Dr. Wilkinson has seen many changes in the residency program over the 30 years she has been here and is excited to be director now.