Dr. Atkins received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, spending her last semester aboard Voyager, a ship for the Semester at Sea program which circumnavigates the globe to allow firsthand experience of cultural and humanitarian issues. She then received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Atkins completed a private practice internship in small animal medicine, surgery, and emergency at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, California. Dr. Atkins joined the Eye Care for Animals residency program in 2011.