Melanie Sue Collins, MD

Melanie Sue Collins, MD, is focused on provided outstanding care and education to children with all types of chronic respiratory disease. Her priority is to know each child as an individual – knowing their hobbies and personal preferences, in addition to their medication information. She believes it’s critical for patient and families to understand the how and why of their therapies and care.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Collins is Program Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship. Over the last two years, she has worked with the American Board of Pediatrics and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to improve evaluation of pediatric pulmonary fellows. She enjoys teaching learners at all stages of education to convince them early to become pediatric pulmonologists. She is committed to training fellows who provide cutting-edge, compassionate patient care while also conducting outstanding research to forward their field.

Dr. Collins is also Director of Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic Services, which provides pulmonary function testing as well as cardiac stress testing. The lab became recognized by the American Thoracic Society for the first time in 2021 under her direction.

Dr. Collins is the Associate Director of the Central Connecticut Cystic Fibrosis Center and Clinical Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Program and a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Special Interest Group on newborn screening. She is a Skills Champion for the CFF Partnership Enhancement Program.  

In 2023, Dr. Collins expanded her knowledge and passion for CF, by founding the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Center at Connecticut Children’s and UConn Health. She collaborates with the PCD Foundation and leads their education committee. She looks forward to continuing to improve education and care for all patients with disorders of mucociliary clearance (CF, PCD and those who are too unique to fit into one category).

In her free time, Dr. Collins enjoys spending time with her family including her horse, Miss Foxy, who also has asthma.  Dr. Collins continues to enjoy playing the piano by volunteering with the chorus at her daughters’ school.