JUDITH B. COLLINS, RNC, MS, WHNP, FAAN
Chair of Steering Committee
jcollins@vcu.org

Judith B. Collins, RNC, MS, WHNP, FAAN, former Director of the comprehensive Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Women's HealthCare at Stony Point Park and Associate Professor Emeritus, Schools of Nursing and Medicine, VCU, Richmond, Virginia (1993-2000). Ms. Collins retired in July 2000 after more than thirty years of service at VCU. Ms. Collins earned her B.S.N. from the University of North Carolina, M.S. in Maternal-Child Health Nursing from Boston University, and OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Certificate from VCU. Throughout her nursing career, she has held positions in nursing services, administration and education. She served on the Hospital Ship HOPE in Nicaragua in 1966. She was also a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C. in 1982-1983 and worked in Congress in the Office of Congressman Richard A. Gephardt. Following the fellowship, Ms. Collins initiated the VCU Health Policy Office in the Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences to focus on governmental relations and health policy issues/education. She was Director of the Health Policy Office from 1983-1993.

Ms. Collins is a nationally known speaker, consultant, and writer in the areas of women's health care, health policy, and nurse practitioner issues. Ms. Collins co-authored a chapter in Primary Health Care of Women entitled "Women and the Health Care System." She has served on multiple Boards and Task Forces focused on health policy issues including infant mortality, maternal-child health, indigent care, and health professional standards.

Ms. Collins holds leadership positions in many community and professional organizations on the local, state and national levels. She was the first Chair of the National Alliance of Nurse Practitioners, National Vice President of NAACOG (AWHONN), Vice President of the National Certification Corporation (NCC) for Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nurses and the past Chair of the Virginia Capital Area March of Dimes.

She is currently a Board Member of the National Center for Certification Preparation and Review, a Trustee and Vice President of the MCV Foundation, Co-Chair of the Advisory Council of the YWCA, Board Member and Vice Chair of Women's Health Virginia, Board Member of the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council, Trustee of the Richmond Memorial Foundation, Board Member of the VCU Institute of Women's Health and Board Member of Centralized Credentials Verification Service, Inc. Ms. Collins is volunteering as a WHNP at Craig Health Center.

Ms. Collins is also a founding Board Member and Vice President of Women's Health Virginia, a statewide initiative to improve the health of women and girls in Virginia, that partners with VCU's Institute of Women's Health on education and outreach activities.

Ms. Collins' honors and awards include election as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nurses, Mabel Montgomery Outstanding Nursing Faculty Award, VCU Distinguished Faculty Service Award (first Woman), the National NAACOG Distinguished Professional Service Award, the Virginia Nurses Association 1990 Political Nurse of the Year Award, the 1991 YWCA Outstanding Women's Award of Greater Richmond in Health and Science, appointed by the Governor to serve on the Virginia Board of Nursing (1991-95), VCU Outstanding Alumni Award for 1993, 1994 VCU Woman of the Year, 1994 William Bruch,
Judith B. Collins, RNC, MS, WHNP, FAAN M.D. Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Award, The National Association of Professionals in Women's Health 1998 National Excellence Award for Outstanding Comprehensive Women's Health Services, VCU School of Nursing 1999 Outstanding Alumni Award, and one of the 99 Outstanding Nurses in Virginia by the Virginia Nurses Foundation, the Virginia Nurses Association for 1999, the 1999 National Conference for Nurse Practitioners "Lifetime Achievement Award for 9 National Nurse Practitioner Leaders/Role Models", Virginia Nurses Association 20th Century Pioneer Award, and VCU Health System Employee of the Year for 2000. In honor of her retirement, an endowed Professorship in Women's Health was established at the VCU School of Nursing.

In retirement, Ms. Collins has remained very active as a volunteer on many University, community, state and national boards and foundations.