UF Health Shands names associate chief medical officer

Shelley Wells Collins, M.D., has been named associate chief medical officer. Collins has been a UF College of Medicine associate professor of pediatrics and medical director for inpatient pediatrics programs since 2012, having joined UF Health in 2006 as assistant professor of pediatrics.

In her new role, Collins will report to Timothy Flynn, M.D., UF Health Shands chief medical officer and UF College of Medicine senior associate dean for clinical affairs. Working with colleagues across children’s services, she will help guide the delivery of high-quality, safe and family-centered care for pediatric inpatients. She will also continue her responsibilities in pediatrics under the leadership of Scott Rivkees, M.D., UF College of Medicine pediatrics professor and chair.

“With her additional enterprise-wide responsibilities, Dr. Collins will be the liaison between hospital administration and faculty physicians and medical staff,” Flynn said. “She will partner with hospital and department leaders to develop, evaluate and implement clinical programs and oversee quality and safety standards for pediatric inpatient programs.”

Collins will serve on the UF Health Patient Safety and Quality Committee and guide the physician directors of quality for the children’s hospital. She will also help guide growth and development of pediatric hospital-based services and support philanthropic efforts.

Prior to joining UF Health, Collins was previously a pediatric clinical instructor at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She earned a medical degree from the University of Miami, where she completed her pediatric residency and was pediatric chief resident.

For the past year, Collins has also served as associate medical director of Ped-I-Care at UF, a managed health program that administers health insurance benefits for children from low-income families with special health needs.

“I am honored to take on this additional role to support exceptional care for our patients,” Collins said. “We have a strong foundation built over 50 years by faculty and staff committed to the health and well-being of children in Alachua County, Florida and the Southeast. I look forward to helping UF Health continue this tradition.”

Flynn added, “Creating this position is a tremendous step in the evolution of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. We are very pleased to promote Dr. Collins and work with her to continue the momentum we’ve established and ensure we meet the needs of our young patients and their families.”