Robert Joseph Collins, DMD, MPH

Professional Biography

Dr. Collins joined the faculty in 2006 after careers in the US Public Health Service and with the International Association for Dental Research. He served as the Director of the Division of Community Oral health from 2005-2011 and continued to serve as the Director of the Office of International Relations and as Head of the WHO Oral Health Collaborating Center until 2015. He continues to lecture and conduct seminars related to public health several times per year and to mentor Penn Dental Medicine students enrolled in the DMD-MPH dual-degree program and well as those who may have interest in exploring whether dentistry in public health settings may be part of their future professional careers.

Honors / Credentials

• Associate Fellow, Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, 2008
• Distinguished Service Award, International Association for Dental Research, 2007
• Hein Public Service Award, American Association for Dental Research, 2006
• Special Merit Award: American Association of Public Health Dentistry, 2001
• President’s Award: American Association of Public Health Dentistry, 1996
• Surgeon General’s Medallion, Assistant Secretary for Health Certificate of Appreciation, 1995
• Alumnus Award of Merit: St. Anselm College, Alumnus Award of Merit: University of Pennsylvania, 1992
• Promotion to Assistant Surgeon General grade (08) in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, 1991
• Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal, 1989
• Fellow, American College of Dentists, 1986
• PHS Outstanding Service Medal, 1987
• Board certified in Dental Public Health, PHS Citation, 1984
• Exceptional capability promotion to Dental Director grade (06) in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, 1982
• Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society, PHS Citation, 1980

Education

• Dental public health residency certificate, Indian Health Service, Rockville, MD,1981
• Master of Public Health (MPH), The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, 1980
• Dental education residency certificate, Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 1977
• Dental internship certificate, Gallup Indian Medical Center, Gallup, NM, 1972
• D.M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 1971
• A.B. (Biology), Magna cum Laude, Saint Anselm’s College, Manchester, NH, 1967