Dr. Collins was born and raised in Kansas City. He enjoyed playing many sports as a child and his high school cross-country team still holds the school record for the best time as a team. In college, he discovered soccer and played with a group that defeated his college team. After moving to Modesto, he helped start a local soccer league for kids, now known as MYSA. He attended the University of Kansas Medical School, where he met his future bride who was a nursing student. They moved to Modesto for the Family Practice Residency Program at Scenic General Hospital. He started practice in 1978 and joined Drs. Shiovitz and Gray in 1983. He has 3 sons. All are grown, although one is still in college. He still enjoys sports and plays basketball when time allows. He also enjoys spending time on his ranch in northern California, skiing at Heavenly in Lake Tahoe and relaxing in Maui, Hawaii when time allows.