On any given work day at Heart & Vascular, Tammy Collins, RN, administrator of the practice, might be planning a health screening, working on the budget, or perhaps coordinating schedules. One thing she won’t be is bored. But that’s one of the things she loves about her job. “It’s so diverse. Every day is a different day,” she described. “We have lots of things going on.”

 

Which might be an understatement.

 

Over the past two and half years since Collins joined the Blue Ridge group, the practice has grown from six doctors and a couple of mid levels to nine cardiologist (with two more coming this summer) and seven mid levels. Why such rapid growth? “One reason is the need,” explained Collins. “Unfortunately, it [heart disease] is the number one killer. We also have been growing as the medical center expands and increases our referral base. Our practice takes cardiology to smaller facilities. Wherever [Mountain States Health Alliance] has a hospital, we’ll open an office to ensure our patients have access to specialists.”

 

Such rapid growth can also be attributed to Collin’s leadership skills, which have been honed in her role as mother of two. “I’ve learned so much from being a mom. Sometimes kids mess up and you have to keep them on the right path; you also have to take care of your employees and keep them on the right track,” explained Collins.

 

In addition, she uses a metaphor to describe what qualities administrators must possess. “You can call yourself a leader, but if you are climbing a mountain and you turn around and no one’s behind you. . . what good is that? You have to have people on board. There is a difference between being a manager and a leader. You can manage by telling people what to do, but you lead by having people want to follow.”

 

In her current position, Collins feels very fortunate. “I work with great people and with doctors who are really passionate about what they do.”

 

Collins herself shares the same passion. Collins began her career as a trauma nurse but has always been attracted to cardiology. “There are so many preventable risk factors, and patients can take charge of their health and have control of it,” said Collins. “I’m very passionate about our screenings because they are tightening that awareness. Cardiology has lots of opportunities for educating and changing the public’s health.”

 

As a former trauma nurse, she admits she also likes the excitement of the acute care of cardiology, as well as the broad range of care, as cardiovascular encompasses more than just the heart.

 

Before joining MSHA in 2001 as the director of cardiovascular services, Collins worked for several years as a hands-on critical care nurse. She came to realize, though, that there was opportunity to have a major impact in leadership roles. “As a nurse, I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot in healthcare, including case management, quality control, program start ups, including Ask-a-Nurse,” she said.

 

Collins left MSHA for a couple of years, which she described as a great job and a great experience, but she wanted to pursue an opportunity in sales. She quickly learned that her forte was in cardiology. “I came back to Mountain States on the practice side of things,” she recalled. “That when I joined Heart & Vascular.”

 

Collins demonstrates a good balance between her current position, and her role as wife and mother. Collins grew up in southwest Virginia, the oldest of three children. After graduating high school, she traveled to Germany, where she lived and learned for a couple of years. “It was a great education,” she recalled. “I learned the language and got an international license. Then I came back for my sister’s wedding and met my husband.”

 

Her husband of 24 years, Tony, runs the couple’s jewelry store and is a talented musician, which he passed on to their children. Both their son Blake, age 23, and daughter Jamie, age 20, are in bands. “When Tony sits in to play with them, we call it the Collins Family Band,” she said, laughing. “They play acoustic music—jazz, bluegrass, Americana—we all love it when Rhythm & Roots comes to town.” 

 

Although she likes listening to the family’s musical endeavors, Collins enjoys a different interest—gardening. A nice contrast to the mental work of administration, Collins de-stresses by planting both vegetable and flower gardens. “That’s my kind of thing. I like physical work.”