About

Michael Collins is a professor at Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences in the Department of English. His scholarly work explores the relationship between risk, altruism, sibling rivalry, and sovereignty as they emerge in works by various writers, including Etheridge Knight, Yusef Komunyakaa, Norman Mailer, Ayn Rand, Jacques Derrida, and Dante, as well as in institutions such as the Group of 77 developing nations. Collins has authored the book 'The Anti-Civil Rights Movement: Affirmative Action as Wedge and Weapon' (2024) and contributed essays such as 'Transmitting the Lore of Prison Survival: from Amiri Baraka to Etheridge Knight to Reginald Dwayne Betts.' His research interests include American Literature and Culture, African American and African Diaspora Literature, and Interdisciplinary Literary Studies, particularly in areas intersecting economics, medical humanities, law and literature, and prison writing. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University (1999), an M.A. from Columbia University (1993), an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. Collins's scholarship has been recognized through inclusion of his poems in The Best American Poetry 2003 and Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of African American Poetry. His notable publications include a detailed study of Etheridge Knight, highlighting Knight's survival of war injuries, drug addiction, and incarceration, and his poetic contributions that bridge the ethereal and the earthy. Collins's work is characterized by a focus on the intersections of literature, social issues, and cultural identity, contributing significantly to interdisciplinary literary studies.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Sociology
• Political Science
• Social psychology
• Psychology
• Psychotherapist
• Chemistry
• Business
• Physiology
• Internal medicine
• Organic chemistry
• Nursing
• Biology
• Public relations

Selected publications

• Anterior segment applications of optical coherence elastography in ophthalmic and vision science: a systematic review of intrinsic measurement techniques and clinical relevance

  Progress in Biomedical Engineering · 2025-05-06 · 2 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Optical coherence elastography (OCE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures the biomechanical properties of materials and tissues. This systematic review focuses on the applications of OCE in the anterior segment of the eye, including the cornea, iris, and crystalline lens, and its clinical relevance in diagnosing and managing ocular diseases. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA framework to identify studies published between 2014 and 2024. The review included studies that reported intrinsic biomechanical properties of anterior segment tissues measured using OCE. Databases searched included Scopus, Pub Med, and IEEE Xplore. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found that OCE has been used to measure intrinsic biomechanical parameters such as Young’s modulus and shear modulus in ocular tissues. OCE has been utilised to assess corneal stiffness in keratoconus, lens elasticity in presbyopia and cataract formation, and iris biomechanical changes under different lighting conditions. The studies demonstrated that OCE could detect subtle biomechanical changes associated with ocular diseases and measure treatment efficacy, such as collagen crosslinking for keratoconus management. The findings highlight the potential of OCE to enhance clinical diagnostics and patient care by providing detailed insights into the biomechanical properties of ocular tissues. However, variability in measurement techniques, the complexity of the method and reliance on animal models limit the current clinical translation of OCE. Standardised measurement protocols and further development and in vivo validation are needed to overcome these barriers. OCE shows promise as a valuable non-invasive tool for high-resolution assessments of tissue biomechanics, which can subsequently support the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. Future research should focus on standardising OCE methods and integrating them into clinical practice to fully realise their potential in improving patient outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Using Autoethnography to Reflect on Peer Support Supervision in an Irish Context

  The Journal of Practice Teaching in Health and Social Work · 2023 · 9 citations

  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology

  Peer Support Workers and Family Peer Support Workers have been in place within an Irish context since the early 2000s. In February 2017, the Health Service Executive – the Irish health body - created a new grade of Peer Support Workers who were directly employed by the Health Service Executive to provide support for individuals with mental health challenges. To support this, specific training was co-produced and co-delivered by Dublin City University to these new students. Supervision at this time was provided by the Irish Advocacy Network to ensure the integrity of the supervision process. Despite the growth of the peer support movement both nationally and internationally in the past few years, there has yet to be a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers identified as suitable for implementation within an Irish context. A model of supervision for Peer Support Workers is imperative as these professionals specifically utilises their past lived experiences of mental health challenges to support others in their recovery. Additionally, supervision is also required to ensure fidelity to the values and ethos of the profession. This paper has gathered a wide variety of experts in peer support including former and current Peer Support Workers, educators of Peer Support Worker students and service management to begin conversations which will hopefully lead to a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers in an Irish context. This will be achieved using autoethnography – which is a methodology that puts the authors at the heart of the research process by allowing them to become participants in their own study. Resulting from this process, it is hoped that several key themes will be created to support further study that will lead to the creation of a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers that is applicable to community and statutory services within the Irish context.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Fracture Risk in Pediatric Patients With MEN2B

  The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2022-09-03 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  CONTEXT: The skeletal phenotype of patients with MEN2B has been described but fracture risk in these patients has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to better delineate fracture risk in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B). METHODS: This case series with chart review was conducted at the National Institutes of Health, Pediatric Oncology Branch. A total of 48 patients with MEN2B were identified, with an age range of 5 to 36 years, median of 19; 24 of 48 (50%) patients were female. Medical records, demographic information, available imaging, and laboratory results were reviewed. History up to age 19 was included in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients with MEN2B, 20 patients experienced at least one fracture. The majority (n = 18) experienced their first fracture at or before age 19. The observed frequency of fracture occurrence throughout childhood (0-19 years) was 38%, with very little difference between males and females. This frequency is higher than the 9.47 to 36.1 fractures per 1000 persons per year that has been reported in healthy pediatric cohorts in the United States. Less common sites of fracture including vertebral compression fracture and pelvic fractures were observed in patients with MEN2B. CONCLUSION: In this group of patients with MEN2B, there was an increased overall risk of fracture compared to general pediatric cohorts in the United States. Less common sites of fracture were also observed. This suggests a possible effect of an activating RET mutation on bone physiology and warrants further investigation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effects of Encaleret (CLTX-305) on Mineral Physiology in Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia Type 1 Demonstrate Proof-of-Concept: Early Results from a Phase 2B, Open-Label, Dose-Ranging Study [NCT04581629]

  Bone Reports · 2022

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Physiology
  • Biology
  PublisherDOI

• A valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation with lithotripsy-assisted transfemoral approach

  European Heart Journal - Case Reports · 2020-09-07

  articleOpen access

  dilatation eventually achieving an optimal result without aortic regurgitation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• New perspectives in diagnosis and management of optic neuropathy in fibrous dysplasia: utility of optical coherence tomography and computed tomography measurements

  Bone Abstracts · 2019-07-31

  article

  Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on calcified tissues ISSN 2052-1219 (online)

  PublisherDOI

• Incidental abnormal CT scan findings during transcatheter aortic valve implantation assessment: incidence and implications

  Open Heart · 2018-08-01 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objectives: The aim of this retrospective series is to describe the prevalence and clinical significance of the incidental findings found during pre-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) work-up and to ascertain the clinical course of such patients. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI from 2013 to 2015 where a TAVI CT assessment was performed (n=138) were included in the study. All incidental findings that were not expected from the patient's history were discussed at the TAVI multidisciplinary meeting in order to ascertain the clinical significance of said findings and whether they would alter the proposed course of treatment. Mortality data were determined by careful retrospective case note and follow-up appointment analysis. Results: Seventy-eight patients (57%) were found to have incidental findings on pre-TAVI CT scan. The majority of patients had benign pathology with high incidence in particular of diverticular disease, pleural effusions, gallstones, hiatus hernia and degenerative spinal disease. Vascular pathology such as superior mesenteric, renal and iliac artery stenoses and abdominal aortic aneurysm was detected in seven patients. In terms of long-term mortality data, we found no significant difference between those with incidental findings and those without (p=0.48). Survival as assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference between those with and without incidental abnormal CT scan findings (p=0.98). Conclusions: Incidental findings with potential for malignancy are common in an elderly, comorbid population. Ultimately, clinical correlation and prognosis must be swiftly ascertained in order to streamline the patients down the appropriate management pathway while avoiding unnecessary delay for treatment of their aortic stenosis.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluation of infantile and juvenile scoliosis and osteotomies in spinal deformity surgery

  Current Orthopaedic Practice · 2018-08-07 · 2 citations

  article1st author

  Infantile and juvenile scoliosis are both forms of early onset scoliosis (EOS). Juvenile scoliosis (JS) is defined as scoliosis first diagnosed between the ages of 4 and 10 yr, while infantile scoliosis (IS) is defined as scoliosis that is first diagnosed between birth and 3 yr of age but before age 4. The diagnosis and management of these patients continue to remain a challenge to providers. Advanced imaging often is necessary to delineate anatomy and assess for any spinal cord abnormalities that may be contributing to the deformity. Early recognition and treatment may help facilitate treatment. Treatment of these patients may require both nonoperative and operative treatment modalities. Casting and bracing often are used as methods to try and control the curvature until patients are old enough for surgical intervention. Operative treatment for complex spinal deformity may require the use of spinal osteotomies. These osteotomies may be utilized in both pediatric and adult spinal deformity patients. A thorough understanding of each osteotomy is necessary to help properly plan surgical procedures and obtain the desired correction.

  PublisherDOI

• Meta-analysis of individual-patient data from EVAR-1, DREAM, OVER and ACE trials comparing outcomes of endovascular or open repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm over 5 years

  British journal of surgery · 2017-02-01 · 420 citations

  reviewOpen access

  BACKGROUND: The erosion of the early mortality advantage of elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared with open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm remains without a satisfactory explanation. METHODS: An individual-patient data meta-analysis of four multicentre randomized trials of EVAR versus open repair was conducted to a prespecified analysis plan, reporting on mortality, aneurysm-related mortality and reintervention. RESULTS: The analysis included 2783 patients, with 14 245 person-years of follow-up (median 5·5 years). Early (0-6 months after randomization) mortality was lower in the EVAR groups (46 of 1393 versus 73 of 1390 deaths; pooled hazard ratio 0·61, 95 per cent c.i. 0·42 to 0·89; P = 0·010), primarily because 30-day operative mortality was lower in the EVAR groups (16 deaths versus 40 for open repair; pooled odds ratio 0·40, 95 per cent c.i. 0·22 to 0·74). Later (within 3 years) the survival curves converged, remaining converged to 8 years. Beyond 3 years, aneurysm-related mortality was significantly higher in the EVAR groups (19 deaths versus 3 for open repair; pooled hazard ratio 5·16, 1·49 to 17·89; P = 0·010). Patients with moderate renal dysfunction or previous coronary artery disease had no early survival advantage under EVAR. Those with peripheral artery disease had lower mortality under open repair (39 deaths versus 62 for EVAR; P = 0·022) in the period from 6 months to 4 years after randomization. CONCLUSION: The early survival advantage in the EVAR group, and its subsequent erosion, were confirmed. Over 5 years, patients of marginal fitness had no early survival advantage from EVAR compared with open repair. Aneurysm-related mortality and patients with low ankle : brachial pressure index contributed to the erosion of the early survival advantage for the EVAR group. Trial registration numbers: EVAR-1, ISRCTN55703451; DREAM (Dutch Randomized Endovascular Aneurysm Management), NCT00421330; ACE (Anévrysme de l'aorte abdominale, Chirurgie versus Endoprothèse), NCT00224718; OVER (Open Versus Endovascular Repair Trial for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms), NCT00094575.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Buerger's disease

  European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine · 2017-09-07

  article

  Introduction This case demonstrates some of the features associated with Buerger's disease. This is a disease affecting the distal arteries causing ischaemia to the limb. It is associated with young patients who are heavy smokers. Case description A 27-year-old gentleman, who smokes heavily was admitted with ulcerated and necrotic toes. An angiogram was done which showed the cockscrew appearance of the more distal arteries classical of thromboanglitis obliterans, this is what causes the ischaemia. He was treated with smoking cessation and a standard five day course of Inoprost with good symptom relief. Results and conclusions Though Inoprost has good symptomatic relief the disease will continue to progress until the patient has completely stopped smoking as the autoimmune reaction is triggered by a component within the cigarette. If these patients do not stop smoking they are likely to require an amputation of the limb. Take-home message These patients require smoking cessation assistance. If these patients do continue to smoke, they often require amputation, therefore early counselling with an amputation service/physiotherapists is useful.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Iris R. Hartley

  National Institutes of Health

  8 shared

• Srivandana Akshintala

  6 shared

• Barbara J. Thomas

  University of Alabama at Birmingham

  6 shared

• Mahider M Enyew

  National Cancer Institute

  6 shared

• Iris Li

  6 shared

• Eva Dombi

  National Cancer Institute

  6 shared

• J. M. Hogan

  Institute of High Energy Physics

  6 shared

• J D Blankensteijn

  Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc

  6 shared

Awards & honors

• Poems in The Best American Poetry 2003
• Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of African American Poe…