Jerry C. Collado, MSN, CPNP-AC
Gender: Male
Biography: Chris Collado became a registered nurse in 1997. He received his MSN in 2009 from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and was certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In 2013, Chris received his MSN from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was dual board certified in 2014 in Pediatric Acute and Primary Care. In 2021, he received a Doctor in Health Administration degree from UMMC.
Chris has served in numerous clinical, hospital leadership, and academic roles. From 2014 through 2021, he served as the Director of Advanced Practice for Children’s of Mississippi (CoM). In 2015, Chris helped start Mississippi’s first Dual-Option Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. In addition to these roles, he has practiced in numerous clinical settings including pediatric emergency medicine, critical care, newborn medicine, and medical/surgical acute care.
In 2019, Chris led the operational transition and facility activation for the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at CoM. In 2021, he joined hospital administration serving as Children's Clinical and Administrative Services Director. Chris joined the School of Nursing at UMMC as an Associate Professor in 2025. He has given numerous state and regional presentations on pediatric healthcare and healthcare leadership.
My Approach to Healthcare
I believe that all of Mississippi's children deserve access to equitable, high-quality care so they can reach their full potential. Every child for whom I provide care will be treated with the same level of commitment and compassion that I'd expect for my own kids.
Education
| Board Certification: | Nurse Practitioner, Family, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics, Critical Care |
Experience
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Pediatric Acute Care, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board | 06/2014 - 02/2026 |
| Certification, Pediatric Primary Care, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board | 09/2014 - 02/2026 |
| Certification, Family Nurse Practitioner, The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board | 10/2019 - 10/2029 |
| Licensure, Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Mississippi Board of Nursing | 12/2024 - 12/2026 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| UMMC Nurse Hall of Fame, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2022 |
| Graduate Student of the Year – Peds Primary & Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham | 2013 |
| Jay Waits Graduate Student of the Year, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2009 |