H. DOUGLAS COLLINS, M.D.

HANOVER, N.H. – H. Douglas Collins, M.D., 80, died Oct. 14, 2008, at the retirement community at Kendal of Hanover, N.H., a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Born and raised in Caribou, he was the third son of Samuel W. and Elizabeth Black Collins. He graduated from the University of Maine and went on to Harvard Medical School, Class of 1952. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. After serving a public health service in Anchorage, Alaska, he established a solo practice in Caribou. He returned to Massachusetts General Hospital in 1972 for a refresher year of residency. From 1975 to 1980 he directed Central Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency, Augusta. After this position, he returned to his medical practice in Caribou, 1980-1986. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1982 and served on a number of national committees of this division of the National Academy of Sciences. He retired to take care of his wife of 36 years, Helen Fraser Collins, who died of cancer. After his retirement he was appointed a governor of the American Board of Internal Medicine, 1988-1991. In 1989, he received the Laureate Award of the Maine Chapter of the American College of Physicians; for his contributions to his clinical practice of medicine as a long term provider of quality health care in a rural environment, whose perspectives he brought to the Institute of Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine, and his accomplishments in medical education as a residency director. In 1992, he was awarded a mastership in the American College of Physicians at the college’s 73rd annual meeting in San Diego. This award is given to fellows who have made distinguished contributions to the medical profession because of personal character, positions of honor, influence and eminence in practice in the art of medicine. Fourteen masterships were awarded that year in the U.S. During this time, he married Mary Libby Dresser. Both enjoyed many activities in the outdoors. Doug enjoyed teaching grandchildren of both families the science of walking in the woods, how to fish a stream, how to plant a vegetable garden, paddle a canoe or kayak, and most of all, skiing in the winter at Sugarloaf. Truly a man of all seasons and very much loved by his entire family, as well as his patients. He leaves his wife, Mary; two sons, Herschel, and Gordon and wife, Susan; one daughter, Linda and husband, John Dunn; eight Collins grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He leaves Mary’s two sons, Thomas Dresser and wife, Gail, and Peter Dresser and wife, Robyn; one daughter, Jane and husband, Steve Howe; as well as six stepgrandchildren. He also leaves three brothers, Samuel W. Collins Jr. and wife, Dorothy, Donald F. Collins and wife, Patricia, and David A. Collins. A service to celebrate his life will be held 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at Carey Medical Center, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou. Friends who wish may donate in Doug’s memory to Carey Medical Center.