Ava Collins

Interim President for Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center

As interim president, Ava is responsible for leading operations of EMMC to improve the health of communities throughout the regions served. Ava is charged with aligning resources to support Maine communities and hospitals needing advanced inpatient and outpatient care.

Ava became interim president of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in October 2024. She understands her responsibility to this community and is active in many roles to strengthen the relationship between EMMC and the community at large.  

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. With more than 25 years of executive healthcare experience, Ava is a dynamic leader recognized for driving 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 most recently served in executive roles for Tenet Healthcare, in Framingham and Worcester, including chief executive officer of MetroWest Medical Center, a multi-site campus with acute care and behavioral health hospitals. In addition to leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, she directed transformational initiatives, fostered innovation, and drove high impact capital projects to ensure sustainability and growth.

Prior to joining Tenet, Ava served in various executive roles with Ochsner Health in New Orleans. A few highlights of her career at Ochsner include the re-opening of Ochsner Baptist Hospital after Hurricane Katrina; 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.