It is with mixed emotion that I announce the planned retirement of Dr. Collins at the end of this year, following nearly 35 years of extraordinary service to our patients, our health system and the community we serve. 

Dr. Collins began his medical private practice in 1983 as a Board-Certified General and Vascular Surgeon, following completion of his General Surgery Residency and Vascular Surgery and Transplantation Fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.  He joined the Bethesda Oak Hospital Medical Staff in 1983, launching a prolific career marked by clinical excellence, integrity, progressive leadership and improved health for thousands of patients under his care.

In 2005, Dr. Collins began the next chapter of his career, taking on the role of Executive Medical Director for Bethesda North Hospital, and he was soon promoted to Vice President of Medical Affairs.  In these roles, Dr. Collins was instrumental in leading the system’s early clinical integration work, which included development of Wound Care Centers at Bethesda North and Good Sam, formation of the TriHealth Vascular Access Team, and creation of the first system-wide Medical Staff Committees, including Pharmacy & Therapeutics and the Laboratory Utilization and Practice.  During this period, he also found time to give back – and was a favorite teacher in the Bethesda Family Practice Residency Program, being named “Teacher of the Year” on more than one occasion!

In 2014, Dr. Collins was appointed TriHealth System Chief Medical Officer.  In this role, Dr. Collins has served as a tireless leader and a clarion voice in our work to transform TriHealth into the region’s only patient-centered clinically integrated delivery system by expanding the role of physician and nursing leadership.  He helped to guide the creation of our TriHealth Integrated Leadership Team, which now includes dozens of new system physician leadership roles, including 6 new System Service Line Medical Directors, a System Chief Quality Officer, a System Chief Medical Informatics Officer and 18 new TriHealth Clinical Department Chiefs, along with Nursing and Executive leadership.  He has also played an integral role in developing and successfully launching TriHealth’s Physician Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) and quarterly Physician Forums – all to foster expanded participation in decision making and leadership of our evolving system.

As extraordinary as all of Dr. Collins’ professional achievements and many contributions are though, what makes him really special are his rare and genuine personal qualities.  Dr. Collins is the epitome of a humble, respectful servant leader – and his deep concern and care for his colleagues and team members, our patients and TriHealth itself, are truly inspirational.  And anyone who has had the privilege of working for or beside him knows this first hand – I know I certainly do!  We are a better healthcare system because of his leadership, and we are all better people because of his example and influence. 

While it will be difficult to see Dr. Collins leave at the end of the year, it’s reassuring to know that his legacy of clinical excellence, compassionate care and strong physician leadership will endure at TriHealth for many decades to come.  As yet another example of his selflessness, Dr. Collins was unwilling to retire until he had successfully mentored and could confidently endorse and recommend a successor.  So I am pleased to announce that with the strong endorsement of Medical Staff and other physician leaders, as well as the TriHealth Board, Dr. Kevin Joseph, TriHealth Chief Quality Officer, has been named to assume the role of TriHealth Chief Medical Officer following Dr. Collins’ retirement.  A practicing Emergency Medicine physician, Dr. Joseph brings nearly a decade of progressive physician leadership experience to this role, including serving for seven years as president of UC Health’s West Chester Hospital.  Dr. Collins will work closely with Dr. Joseph through the remainder of the year to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Joseph on his upcoming new role and wishing Dr. Collins all the best in his retirement pursuits.  Be sure to let him know how much you value him and everything he has done for TriHealth, our patients and our team!