Prof. Chris Collins

About

Professor Chris Collins is a Consultant General and Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgeon with appointments at Bon Secours Hospital Galway, Galway University Hospital, and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. He serves as the Upper GI lead for the Health Service Executive (HSE) West and is a member of the National ICU Committee. Professor Collins is also a lecturer in Surgery at both the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the University of Limerick.

Clinical Expertise

Professor Collins specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal disorders, including swallowing difficulties such as achalasia, oesophageal dysmotility, and oesophageal reflux. He has significant expertise in treating oesophageal and gastric cancers. Additionally, Professor Collins has extensive experience in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, performing procedures such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy (for gallstone disease) and laparoscopic repair of groin and abdominal wall herniae. He offers direct access gastroscopy and colonoscopy for suitable patients, ensuring rapid diagnosis.

Background and Training

Professor Collins began his surgical training in Cork, completing both his basic surgical training and research there. He holds a PhD and completed the Higher Surgical Training Scheme in General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, along with a Master’s in Quality in Healthcare. He then undertook a fellowship at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London under Professor Bob Mason, focusing on oesophago-gastric and bariatric surgery.

Following this, he was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where his primary interests were minimally invasive oesophago-gastric surgery and the early diagnosis and treatment of Barrett’s Oesophagus using Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) and Radio-frequency Ablation (RFA). He was vice-chairman of the Anglia Oesophago-Gastric Group and a founding member of the Cambridge Hernia Centre, specialising in laparoscopic inguinal and incisional hernia repairs.

Research and Contributions

A graduate of both the engineering and medical schools at University College Cork (UCC), Professor Collins has been actively involved in research throughout his career. During his time at the Cork Cancer Research Centre, he worked alongside Professor Gerry O'Sullivan to develop an electrochemotherapy programme, which led to a successful clinical trial and the creation of medical devices for laparoscopic and endoscopic treatments. For this work, he was awarded the St Luke’s Young Investigator Medal in 2005.

Professor Collins has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers and played a key role in securing EU and Enterprise Ireland grants for the development of electroporation devices and educational animation software. He continues to be heavily involved in clinical research and teaching, particularly in the areas of patient safety, minimally invasive day surgery, and upper gastrointestinal surgery at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe.