Full Name
Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai
Job Title
Retired Cardiologist; Former president of the Alberta Medical Association Chair of the board of governors of the American College of Cardiology Past president of the Canadian Medical Association.
Company / Organization
American College of Cardiology
Speaker Bio
Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, MD '72, MBA '98, is a renowned pediatric cardiologist, public health advocate, and health-sector leader whose career has spanned clinical medicine, academic leadership, policy reform, and the biomedical industry. A graduate of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, she has received an honorary doctor of science degree from her alma mater in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to medicine and society.
Collins-Nakai trained in pediatric cardiology at Harvard Medical School before returning to the U of A, where she founded the Heritage Pediatric Cardiology Program — a groundbreaking initiative with outreach clinics across northern and central Alberta that laid the foundation for today's major children's heart program at the university. She later served as associate dean in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
Throughout her career, Collins-Nakai has been a forceful voice for public health. She successfully advocated for seatbelt legislation in Alberta after caring for children critically injured in car crashes, and moved a motion at the Canadian Medical Association that led Air Canada to become the first airline in the world to go smoke-free. She has also championed accessible early childhood education and the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors beginning in childhood.
Her leadership roles include president of both the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association. She was also the first Canadian — and first woman — to serve as president of the American College of Cardiology and of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology, milestones that reflect both her clinical stature and her commitment to advancing the field globally.
After completing an MBA in 1998, Collins-Nakai transitioned into the private sector, where she has focused on biomedical startups — integrating her research background, clinical expertise, and business acumen to support the development of new health technologies.
A trailblazer for women in medicine, Collins-Nakai has navigated systemic barriers with resolve, crediting a supportive family and a habit of finding ways to "go around" obstacles rather than be stopped by them. She remains an advocate for the next generation of physicians, embracing the field's shift toward humane, partnership-based models of care.
Collins-Nakai trained in pediatric cardiology at Harvard Medical School before returning to the U of A, where she founded the Heritage Pediatric Cardiology Program — a groundbreaking initiative with outreach clinics across northern and central Alberta that laid the foundation for today's major children's heart program at the university. She later served as associate dean in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
Throughout her career, Collins-Nakai has been a forceful voice for public health. She successfully advocated for seatbelt legislation in Alberta after caring for children critically injured in car crashes, and moved a motion at the Canadian Medical Association that led Air Canada to become the first airline in the world to go smoke-free. She has also championed accessible early childhood education and the prevention of cardiovascular risk factors beginning in childhood.
Her leadership roles include president of both the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association. She was also the first Canadian — and first woman — to serve as president of the American College of Cardiology and of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology, milestones that reflect both her clinical stature and her commitment to advancing the field globally.
After completing an MBA in 1998, Collins-Nakai transitioned into the private sector, where she has focused on biomedical startups — integrating her research background, clinical expertise, and business acumen to support the development of new health technologies.
A trailblazer for women in medicine, Collins-Nakai has navigated systemic barriers with resolve, crediting a supportive family and a habit of finding ways to "go around" obstacles rather than be stopped by them. She remains an advocate for the next generation of physicians, embracing the field's shift toward humane, partnership-based models of care.
Speaking At