Certificate of Honor Recipient Recognized for Exemplary Guidance at PCOM 
In Their Words

March 1, 2026

By Alexis Martina

During her 14 years at PCOM, Margaret M. Wilkins, DO, FACOFP, assistant dean of clinical assessment, has left a lasting mark on students, faculty and staff.

Drawing on her experiences as a mother and practicing osteopathic physician, Dr. Wilkins guides future physicians through the rigors of medical school with empathy, insight and determination. The Office of Institutional Advancement spoke with her about how compassion and perseverance have become the hallmarks of her career in medical education.

Q: How did your experiences as a student, resident and physician shape your professional practice?

A: When I was a medical student, I had a newborn baby. One of the deans of my school recognized this and created a space on campus where I could nurse and care for my baby. That kindness stayed with me.

By contrast, during residency with my second child, the experience was very different. I was expected to work 80–100 hours per week without consideration for my need to pump. I nursed my first child for nearly a year and a half but my second for only six months.

That experience changed me. I vowed that, if I ever became a leader, I would approach everyone with compassion and understanding—because I had lived those challenges myself. Medicine is demanding enough without the additional pressures life can bring.

Q: What is the structure of your wellness and mentoring initiatives?

A: I lead with the principle that one can be kind yet firm. My wellness curriculum addresses common challenges physicians face, including sleep deprivation, burnout, self-care, mindfulness, stress—
providing students and residents with tools to build resilience and recognize that it’s okay to care for themselves while pursuing a medical career.

Through faculty mentoring, I support those entering the academic world, helping them gain confidence and thrive as teachers and educators. I provide lectures, resources and tools to ease their entrance into the academic sphere. It can be daunting initially, and my hope is to help them succeed and flourish.

Q: What do you hope people take away from your mentorship and wellness programs?

A: Since joining PCOM in 2012 as director of faculty development for the Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institute, I have focused on wellness programs because I know they help students and residents build confidence and resilience. My goal has always been to cultivate kinder, more compassionate educators and practitioners. I want students and residents to remember that while it’s important to work hard toward their dreams, it’s equally vital to practice wellness and empathy. If you want to do it, you can still find the ways to do it while still being the person you are. You have the power to make medicine a gentler, healthier and kinder field.