Dr. Parris-Wilkins is a practicing dentist with nearly 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 underserved 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 dental faculty member at Wytheville Community College supervising the clinical work of 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 organization 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.

Dr. Parris-Wilkins currently serves as the Dental Review Coordinator for the Virginia Board of Dentistry and as an adjunct faculty member at Germanna Community College supervising the DAII program.

In 2015, she was appointed to the Virginia Board of Dentistry by Governor Terry McAuliffe, ascending to the presidency in 2018. In 2020, she was appointed to Virginia Commonwealth University’s Board of Visitors by Governor Ralph Northam. Dr. Parris-Wilkins serves on the Integration Workgroup of Virginia Health Catalyst and the Free Clinic of Powhatan’s Board of Directors.

In 2012, Dr. Parris-Wilkins created the Parris Wilkins Scholarship, the first endowed scholarship within Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry to benefit African-American students. To date, the scholarship has been awarded to 16 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 and obtained a certificate from Cornell University in Business Excellence for Healthcare Professionals. 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.