Anthony E. Watkins M.D.

Dr. Anthony Evans Watkins passed peacefully at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC on January 15, 2025 with his family prayerfully at his bedside. He was the fourth of six siblings born to Dewey Cole Watkins and Ruth Hall Watkins. At eighty-six years of age, he left the world with his mark of excellence.
Dr. Watkins was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Howard University College of Liberal Arts (1962) and the College of Medicine (1966). His office practice was at MedStar Washington Hospital Center Physician's Office Building in Washington, DC for more than forty years. He was Board Certified in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Internal Medicine, with an Executive M.B.A. Certificate Business of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University. For numerous consecutive years, he was recognized in the annual Washingtonian Top Doctors for distinction in the specialty of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Following three years of military service in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Watkins was honorably discharged at the rank of Surgeon. Having worked in Baltimore, MD and on Staten Island during this period, he returned to Washington, DC and became the Emergency Room Officer and Director at Washington Hospital Center. In subsequent years, his medical teaching awards were many, including those as a Fellow at the George Washington University Hospital in Internal Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, Fellow in Cardiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, DC and at Washington Hospital Center. His publications appear in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, British Medical Journal, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He held several leadership positions at MedStar Washington Center during his forty-seven-year career.
Dr. Watkins, often referred to as "Tony," exemplified ethical professionalism with dignity, grace and a guidance of the medical oath he pledged to uphold. His professional memberships were numerous. And among his recognitions, he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and served as Co-chair of Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly's Health Committee for Washington, DC. His civic connections included The Consorts, The Washington Guardsmen, Washington Boulé, The Group, Howard Univ. Men of the 50s-60s, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Dr. Watkins was the first elected African-American president of the Medical and Dental Staff at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (1993-2001), and in 1996 he was awarded the Washington Hospital Center's prestigious Gold Headed Cane. In 2014 Dr. Watkins retired from MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC.
At his request, a final parting for Dr. Watkins will be private with his immediate family.
Dr. Watkins is survived by: Gladys Manigault Watkins, loving wife of fifty-seven years; sons Steven Anthony Watkins, Craig Anthony Watkins, M.D. (Runa Diwadkar Watkins, M.D.) and Evan Anthony Watkins (Opal Gray Watkins); grandchildren Jayson Craig Watkins; Jasmine India Watkins and Anthony Evan Watkins, II; one sister, Marian Williams (Ralph Williams dec.); one brother, Rufus Watkins, (Sheila Watkins); sister-in-law Naomi Manigault Holmes (Bert W. Holmes Jr., M.D. dec.); several dear nieces, nephews and cousins. His brothers Robert (Marlene Watkins, dec.), Richard (Bertha Watkins) and Curtis preceded him in death. Tony's friendships were numerous and of immense treasure to his life.
The Watkins family extends special gratitude for the many kindnesses and expressions of love given during their time of bereavement.
In Memoriam, contributions and supporting gifts are always appreciated by:
MedStar Washington Hospital Center,110 Irving Street, N.W., Attn: Harsh Srivastava, Washington, DC 20010. (Memo: The Isabel Pryce NeedySickFund.) https://giving.medstarhealth.org/medstarhealth/get-involved/donate/Watkins
Howard University College of Medicine. Please make checks payable to Howard University and include College of Medicine in the Memo. Mail to Howard University, P.O. Box 22960, New York, NY 10087-2960. https://giving.howard.edu/HUCOM.
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