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Collins retires from VA center after 39 years

NEWLY RETIRED employee Andrea Collins, who worked in nursing at the VA medical center for 39 years, stands with friend and long-time colleague James Rice, the former director of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. (Submitted photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Andrea Castelaz Collins recently retired as associate director of nursing at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center.

Collins, of Kingsford, was born and raised in Norway and is the daughter of Clarence and Tess Castelaz. She graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Northern Michigan University in 1983 and started her VA career at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, later earning a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2005.

Collins worked in various areas during her tenure at the Iron Mountain VA center. She began her career as a staff registered nurse with the medical/respiratory care unit. She was then a nurse manager of a medical unit, and in 1991 moved to primary care at the Iron Mountain VA as the nurse manager.

She was instrumental in starting eight community-based outpatient clinics, beginning in 1993, according to the VA center. In 2005, she was appointed associate chief of nursing, then in 2007 became associate director of nursing, a position she remained in until her retirement June 3.

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