October 9, 2025 Seward Folly Staff

Seward Community Health Center has named Dr. Colleen Collins as its new medical director, bringing a wealth of experience from some of the East Coast’s most prestigious institutions.

Dr. Collins arrives in Seward from Boston, where she most recently served as medical director at Brandeis University. Before her tenure at Brandeis, she led the urgent care department at MIT. Her medical credentials include a degree from Yale, where she was one of just sixteen women in her class, as well as an undergraduate degree from Bates College.

Her move to Seward, she admits with a laugh, was something of a surprise even to herself.

“I hadn’t planned on leaving Brandeis,” Collins said, recalling the moment she saw the job posting for SCHC.

Though she knew little about Seward beyond its namesake, William H. Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State, Collins was instantly intrigued. A fan of American history, she remembered Seward’s role in President Lincoln’s cabinet from Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals.” As an avid hiker, skier, and snowshoer, she found herself drawn to the region’s outdoor possibilities. She took a five-day trip to Seward just before the Fourth of July to see the community for herself.

During her visit, Collins met with SCHC CEO Jilian Chapman. The two quickly established a rapport. Collins was impressed by the center’s commitment to growth—including plans for a new facility—and its mission to serve a diverse patient population.

“Jilian’s vision, her ties, and her commitment to the community sold me on the position,” Collins said.

Dr. Collins believes her varied background is well-suited to Seward’s needs. She describes herself as a “general internal medicine doctor,” with training that includes surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency, and urgent care. She notes that while many medical schools increasingly encourage specialization in so-called “lifestyle fields” like radiology, pathology, or emergency medicine, her broader experience is a better match for the demands of a small town.

“I wanted something stable but also a bit of adventure,” Collins said. “I want to be a patient advocate, especially when it comes to referrals, which are the backbone of medical care. There’s a real need here, and I’ll work hard to figure it out.”

SCHC’s vision, she adds, is to act as the “glue” of the community’s health care system—ensuring that residents get the personalized care they need.