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Wednesday, January 6, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
BRAIN HEALTH: Talk
launches winter
speaker series
Continued from page 3
or even nonsense — to keep
our brains active, learn-
ing and growing.” His life’s
work more than qualifies him
as an expert on the subject.
Collins graduated in 1964
from UC Berkeley in English
literature, where a poem by
Emily Dickinson directed
him toward a research career
in academic neurology.
After receiving his medi-
cal degree from Cornell
Medical College, he trained
at the National Institutes of
Health and then held a fac-
ulty post at Cornell-New
York Hospital while doing
research at Rockefeller
University. Rockefeller had
a small research hospital but
no neurologist. Scientists
there asked Collins to run
a clinical study on a poten-
tial treatment for multiple
sclerosis.
“The study was robust
enough to prove conclusively
this new treatment did not
work! Science keeps us all
honest and moving forward,”
he said of that time.
After a stint as faculty at
Washington University in
St. Louis, he became chair-
man of neurology at the
UCLA Medical Center in
1987, where he led the move-
ment to make it a research
department.
After retiring in 2002,
Collins and his wife, Valerie,
a quilter and painter, moved
to Sisters in 2005 to the
home they had purchased
on the edge of Indian Ford
Meadow. It was the pan-
oramic view from the house
of the mountains, meadow
and trees that originally cap-
tured their attention.
Since moving to Sisters,
Collins has planted himself
deeply in the community. In
2011 he and Cal Allen lit the
spark that has grown into the
Sisters Science Club, where
Collins serves as president.
The interest in science gen-
erated by their efforts has
given rise to multiple oppor-
tunities for the community
and the schools, including
the annual science fair in
February, public lectures on
a wide range of current sci-
entific topics, and rewarding
challenges for students at all
levels.
A lesser-known side of
the doctor is his interest in
the arts. He is a sculptor and
has had shows in St. Louis,
Los Angeles, and Sisters.
In 2014, his novel, “Rodnie
Jones,” was published. The
story is described on Amazon
as a page-turner about a
retired neurologist, his young
medical student with a dark
cultural past, and the hubris
that can take us down self-
destructive paths.
The Diane Jacobsen
Speaker Series was estab-
lished by FOSL to honor a
beloved, dedicated elemen-
tary school teacher who died
of cancer. Her fourth-grade
teaching about the Oregon
Trail made history come
alive for generations of
Sisters students.
Jacobsen was a fully
involved member of the
Sisters community, includ-
ing her position as a member
of the Sisters library board.
Her efforts were central to
the construction of a larger
library – the building now
housing the Sisters Chamber
of Commerce. The origi-
nal library, now the Maida
Bailey building, was one of
her favorite places in Sisters.
As a FOSL volunteer, she
worked on the annual book
sale and headed the FOSL
selection committee for the
annual graduating senior
scholarship award.
For all of her work on
behalf of Sisters, she was
the recipient of numerous
community awards, includ-
ing the Chamber’s Citizen of
the Year. In memory of her
years of service to the Boy
Scouts, a portrait of Jacobsen
in her pioneer clothing was
donated by Scout Troop 139,
to hang outside the elemen-
tary school library. The
inscription partially reads,
“Diane Jacobsen, a legend
in her own time. Educating
Sisters children from 1979 to
2008.”
The annual FOSL speaker
series continues to honor the
memory of a very special
woman. This year’s talks are
health-related, with future
presentations on exercise,
nutrition, and end-of-life
care.
photo provided
Robert Collins M.D., retired neurologist and Sisters resident, will speak on
“Secrets for a Healthy Brain” on January 10 at the Sisters library.
Sisters Businesses Are...
A Y S
for the New Year!
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January 13 & 20.
Each participating advertiser will
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Ad dimensions: 4" x 2.375"
At Your Service is a special section cre-
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