Tonya Parris-Wilkins, DDS
Practicing Dentist
Dr. Parris-Wilkins is a practicing dentist with 20 years of experience. While in Southwest Virginia, she served as the Dental Director for the Bland Ministry Center in Bland, Virginia. During her tenure, she supervised the expansion of dental services to the citizens of Southwest Virginia via the opening of Big Walker Dentistry, a charitable, 5-operatory, state of the art facility and the expansion of dental services into the public school systems of Wythe and Bland counties. In addition, she served as an adjunct faculty member at Wytheville Community College, supervising the clinical work of dental hygiene students.
Previously, she owned and operated Southside Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Colonial Heights, Virginia. She was featured in the EVB Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized (P.O.W.E.R) campaign which recognizes successful female business owners across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to private practice, Dr. Parris-Wilkins oversaw the dental program of the largest federally qualified health center in Virginia--Central Virginia Health Services (CVHS). During her tenure with CVHS, the dental program expanded from 4 to 10 sites and doubled the number of those in need that received treatment. Dr. Parris-Wilkins began her career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Practice at VCU’s School of Dentistry. She currently serves as the Dental Review Coordinator for the Virginia Board of Dentistry.
In 2015, she was appointed to the Virginia Board of Dentistry, ascending to the presidency in 2018. Dr. Parris-Wilkins currently serves on the Board of Directors for Virginia Health Catalyst and the Free Clinic of Powhatan.
In 2012, Dr. Parris-Wilkins created the Parris Wilkins Scholarship, an endowed scholarship within Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry to benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds. To date, the scholarship has been awarded to 17 students in need.
Dr. Parris-Wilkins obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a general practice residency at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, obtained a certificate from Cornell University in Business Excellence for Healthcare Professionals and a certificate from Duke University in Non-Profit Management. She is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists.
Dr. Parris-Wilkins resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband Joseph D. Wilkins, D.P.T., M.S.H.A. and their three children.
