Dr. Walker received her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin, where she received training in minority aging, women’s health, and disability research. Her dissertation on predictors of disability among older African American women with osteoarthritis was funded by a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Diversity Supplement (1F131NR014399-01) and the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Patricia G. Archbold Scholarship. Dr. Walker completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Training Program in Biobehavioral Pain Research (T32NS070201). Her research focus is on improving pain and physical function among African Americans and other minority groups aging with chronic conditions.​