Dr. Watson is a Professor and the Program Director in the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She earned her medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine and completed her general surgery and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residencies at the UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Watson received advanced fellowship training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is double Board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She joined the faculty at UCSD in 1999 and has had a teaching and mentoring role with the UCSD surgical residents, medical students, and bioengineering students. In addition, Dr. Watson has pursued basic science research in autologous tissue-engineered cartilage for its use in craniofacial reconstruction as well as research in the educational arena for surgical training enhancement and graduate medical education program implementation.