Ava Collins
Interim President of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
Ava Collins, MHA, FACHE, is the interim president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. As president, Ava is responsible for the overall operational performance and mission fulfillment of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.
With more than 25 years of executive healthcare experience, Ava is a dynamic leader recognized for driving business results through the connection of strategy, clinical operations, talent, and culture. In addition, she has been successful in leading complex change and physician collaboration focused on high quality, patient-centered care.
Ava has been with Northern Light Health since June of 2024. Prior to joining the organization, she most recently held executive roles for Tenet Healthcare, in Framingham and Worcester. As chief executive officer of MetroWest Medical Center, a multi-site campus with acute care and behavioral health hospitals, she led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, directed transformational initiatives, fostered innovation, and drove high impact capital projects to ensure sustainability and growth. Before this role, Ava served as group chief operating officer of MA and Mid-South Tenet hospitals, as well as Saint Vincent Hospital, leading daily hospital operations, and key specialty service lines.
Prior to joining Tenet, Ava served in various executive roles with Ochsner Health in New Orleans. Highlights of her career at Ochsner include the opening of the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center at the flagship Medical Center; leading the system operating cycle and strategic planning process; and navigating the planning, impact, and recovery of Hurricane Katrina, including the re-opening of Ochsner Baptist Hospital.
Ava holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science from Northeast Louisiana University and is board certified as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Women’s Healthcare Executive Network.