Nancy Collins, PhD, RDN, LD, NWCC, FAND, is a nationally recognized wound healing and nutrition expert based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dr. Collins began her career with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Hotel/Food Service Administration. She was the school’s first food service student to specialize in the noncommercial food service sector and completed an internship at Sunrise Hospital (Las Vegas), which was created just for her.
After working for several years as a food service director in a life care community, Dr. Collins realized the importance of combining her management background with a registered dietitian (RD) credential. She returned to school at night and completed a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition at Florida International University in 1991, which included a 9-month internship at Holy Cross Hospital (Fort Lauderdale).
Upon graduation, Dr. Collins started her own business offering consulting services to long-term care facilities. Her business flourished over the next several years, and she soon was working with national companies and affecting patient care systems on a large scale. Dr. Collins returned to Florida International University (FIU) once again for her doctoral degree in human nutrition, which was awarded in 2000. While at FIU, Dr. Collins taught undergraduate classes in food service management and clinical nutrition.
Dr. Collins has exemplified the spirit of a true entrepreneur in her career. She has two distinct loves, both of which are off the traditional path of RDs. Dr. Collins’ first love is wound care, while her second love is technology.
Dr. Collins is nationally known for her work in the wound care arena. She has extensively studied the nutritional needs of patients with wounds and the effects of malnutrition on tissue regeneration. She is passionate about educating other health care professionals and has delivered more than 500 professional lectures on these topics. Dr. Collins is also a prolific author and has numerous publications to her credit. Dr. Collins has served as an editorial advisor to the journal Advances in Skin and Wound Care, a contributing editor for Ostomy-Wound Management (renamed Wound Management & Prevention), and an editorial advisor for Today’s Diet and Nutrition. She also has served as a member of many medical advisory boards, including the American Professional Wound Care Association.
Her ground-breaking work in wound care has led to a second specialty in litigation and risk management. Dr. Collins has served as an expert witness in more than 500 medical malpractice and wrongful death suits involving the interwoven issues of wounds, nutrition, dehydration, and the applicable standard of care.
Dr. Collins’ work in wound care highlighted the need for high quality and easily accessible resources for health care professionals. This led Dr. Collins to create the global library known as Nutrition411 (formerly RD411). This website provided more than 3000 peer-reviewed articles and resources covering a multitude of health and nutrition topics. This website was sold to a multi-channel leader focused on content and health care education.
Dr. Collins also has a long history of service to the profession. She is a past president of the Broward (Fort Lauderdale) Dietetic Association, past president of the Florida Dietetic Association, and past chair of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group. She also has served as a delegate in the House of Delegates of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and in various positions for the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition, she has served as the Academy’s official representative to the Alliance on Wound Care Stakeholders and the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel.