GRMC Welcomes Internist Collins

Ronald B. Collins, Jr., MD, will join Grinnell Regional Medical Center and the GRMC Medical Staff on April 25. Collins specializes in internal medicine and will provide inpatient care as a hospitalist at GRMC initially.

A hospitalist is a physician who provides care to individuals upon admission to the hospital, including the intensive care unit. He will work with Christine Lindgren, DO, PhD, providing inpatient and outpatient internal medicine care. The outpatient clinic is located on the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.

Collins comes to Grinnell after serving as a hospitalist at Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. He completed his residency at the same hospital, with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria program. While there, he also served as an Associate Professor of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica.

“I wanted to get into internal medicine for the diversity in patient base and illnesses. I really like the spectrum of cases,” Collins says. “Areas that I especially enjoy are pre-operative care – that being prior to a surgical procedure – as well as diabetes and cardiac care.”

“Dr. Collins brings excellent experience and skills plus familiarity with electronic medical records. With his rural upbringing, he will relate well with our patients,” says Christine Lindgren, DO, PhD. “I’m looking forward to having Dr. Collins join us at GRMC. He understands rural values and our patients will connect well to him.”

Prior to attending medical school, Collins was a paramedic for both Delta and Medic Ambulance companies in Maine. He earned an undergraduate degree from Norwich University Military College of Vermont. He also served six years in the United States Army Reserve as a combat medic.

Collins, his wife, Jennifer, and children Victoria and Broden, selected Grinnell for their new home because of the quality of life. Collins grew up in Russell, Iowa, and his wife also came from a small town in Massachusetts. They believe Grinnell has the small town values and culture that they appreciate.

Doctors of internal medicine focus on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. At least three of their seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that affect adults. Because their patients are often seriously ill or require complex investigations, internists do much of their work in hospitals and then follow up care in an outpatient clinic.

At GRMC, Collins will be working with Lindgren for hospitalist coverage of inpatients and limited outpatient services. Todd A. Janicki, MD, MBA, internal medicine specialist, will join the team in July.
Once all three internists are on staff, GRMC plans to open an internal medicine outpatient clinic. The outpatient clinic is located on the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.

For information on Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine services, call 641-236-2382.