Collins was born in Caribou and attended local schools. He graduated from the University of Maine and attended Harvard Medical School where he earned his medical degree. He then completed his internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Collins practiced in Caribou at the then Cary Memorial Hospital from 1957 to 1975. He was then named the first director of the Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program a fledgling Primary Care Residency Program in Augusta. Later Collins returned to Caribou, practicing from 1980 –85.
Throughout a 90-minute program, speaker after speaker praised multiple aspects of Dr. Collins’ life. Sen. Olympia Snowe and former Maine Gov. John McKernan, offered a letter that was read at the memorial event. Letters from Congressman Mike Michaud and Gov. John Baldacci also were presented. State Rep. Peter Edgecomb presented a formal Legislative Sentiment and Kris Doody, RN, CEO at Cary Medical Center shared a letter from former Cary CEO, John (Jack) McCormack and his family.
Tess Collins, accompanied by her sister Laura provided a moving musical tribute with the song “Climb Every Mountain”. Tess and Laura are the daughters of Sam and Lise Collins of Caribou.
Carl Flynn, M.D., president of the medical staff at Cary Medical Center, presented remarks from Madjid Yaghmai, M.D., Cary’s most tenured physician. Flynn also relayed information regarding Dr. Collins’ appointment to the National Institute of Medicine. Collins was appointed to this prestigious body, a program of the National Academy of Science, in August of 1981. He served for nearly 10 years working on multiple IOM committees including the Committee to Review Medical Education in the United States. Flynn said that Collins served with distinction and had influence at the highest levels of medical practice in the United States.
Dr. Collins’ brother, David Collins, Ph.D., provided a unique pre-recorded testimony highlighting the high quality and character of his late brother. The presentation spoke of how, as a younger brother, David looked up to his older sibling and how much respect and admiration he had for him. Dr. Collins’ son, Herschel D. Collins, Jr., R.N., spoke of his father’s love of the out of doors and the quality of his life. He also praised the support provided by his stepmother, Mary, during his father’s last days suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alexander McPhedran, a friend and colleague of Dr. Collins at the Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program, spoke of his longtime relationship with Collins and the great impact the physician had on the residency program and on his own life. The past residency director and current preceptor for the program spoke movingly of the great friendship that developed between the two professionals and what a loss his death was to so many.
Daniel Onion, M.D., past residency director and current faculty at the program also had high praise for Collins’ work with the project. He explained the many challenges faced by Collins as the program first began. Hecited the high expectations that Dr. Collins had for residents and their mentoring physicians and how he was absolutely committed to seeing the program blossom to help meet the growing demand for primary care medicine in Maine. The program now has some 200 physicians involved and graduates 10 residents each year. Seven of the graduates generally move on to stay in the state serving Maine communities.
Thomas L. Dresser, the stepson of Dr. Collins, completed the formal remarks by providing a unique glimpse into the personal and family life of Dr. Collins who married Mary Libby Dresser after losing his first wife Helen to cancer. Dresser told of the powerful influence Dr. Collins had on the family, his love for his grandchildren, and his many skills as a teacher, gardener and more.
At the completion of the formal program, family and friends were asked to share personal remembrances of Dr. Collins. An avid skier and outdoorsman, many stories were shared about Dr. Collins’ trips to Sugarloaf, and other experiences. Warren Kesslar, former CEO of the Maine General Hospital in Augusta, the home of the Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program, spoke of Dr. Collins influence over medicine in the state. He explained how the program struggled to get going but once Dr. Collins arrived in 1975 the program began to find its footing. Kesslar also remarked about the loss of Collins from the program when he returned to Caribou in 1980.
“Given the position of leadership that he held with our program, it was hard for us to understand why he would face the challenge of returning to Caribou and a private practice where the need was so great. But now, after coming to Caribou and seeing this turn out and what a fine hospital you have, I have a better understanding of why he returned,” stated Kesslar.
At the conclusion of personal stories and individual comments, Don Collins, brother of Dr. Collins, expressed his appreciation for the impressive turnout for the event and on behalf of the family thanked Cary Medical Center for hosting the program. Following his remarks Tess Collins accompanied again by Laura Collins led the gathering in the song “Edelweiss” from the “Sound of Music” a favorite of Dr. Collins.
The family of Dr. Collins has named the Jefferson Cary Foundation as recipient of any memorial gifts in honor of the late physician. For more information please contact Mary Harrigan, executive director, Jefferson Cary Foundation at 493-4849.
Late Caribou Physician Honored
H. Douglas Collins Praised by Professionals, Family and Friends
The Chan Center at Cary Medical Center in Caribou hosted an impressive crowd of former colleagues, family members and friends who paid tribute to the late H. Douglas Collins, M.D. former Internal Medicine specialist at the Caribou hospital. More than 100 people, including more than 40 members of the Collins family attended the Oct. 25, “Celebration of Life” for Collins, who died earlier this month.
