Dr. Angela Smith Collins Download a high-resolution version

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The American Association of Critical Care Nurses awarded Dr. Angela Smith Collins, associate professor of nursing, the 2005 National Excellence in Teaching Award.

Given annually to three professors of nursing from across the country, the award recognizes those said to exemplify the qualities of the AACN presidential themes of collaboration, compassion, ethics, mentoring, presence, self-knowledge and truth.

Collins serves UA by teaching and providing advanced practice nursing resources throughout Alabama. The Greater Birmingham Chapter of AACN and the dean of UA’s Capstone College of Nursing nominated her for the award.

She earned her Associate in Science and Bachelor of Science in nursing from Samford University in 1976 and 1977, respectively, and earned her Master of Science in nursing from Medical College of Georgia in 1978. She completed her Doctor of Science in nursing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1991.

Collins, who has 29 years of experience in clinical nursing and 11 years of experience as a surgical clinical nurse specialist, has published in the areas of cardiovascular pharmacology and pathophysiology and also speaks locally, regionally and nationally on topics of clinical relevance to post-anesthesia care and gastrointestinal physiology.

Active in the American Association of Critical Care Nursing, Collins has been honored over the years as the recipient of the Baptist Health System of Alabama Mission Awards of Excellence and Resourcefulness in both 1998 and 2000, as well as The University of Alabama’s Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award in 2005.