Catharine Kollars, M.D.

About

Dr. Kollars earned her undergraduate degree in biology at the Johns Hopkins University graduating Phi Beta Kappa, the national collegiate honor society. In college she did research with NASA working on the Hubble space telescope. She earned her medical degree at the Mayo Medical School. As an active duty officer in the United States Air Force, she completed her pediatrics residency at David Grant Medical Center where she served as chief resident. She completed her pediatric cardiology fellowship at University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center where she specialized in cardiac imaging, including echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, fetal echocardiography and cardiac MRI. Her research during fellowship involved the systemic right ventricle, specifically in L-transposition of the great arteries, which she presented at regional and national medical meetings. After fellowship, Dr. Kollars was assigned to Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base where she became chief of non-invasive imaging; she provided extensive outpatient and inpatient care to children with heart disease in addition to imaging services, including cardiac MRI in conjunction with the department of Pediatric Radiology. She served at Wilford Hall and Brook Army Medical Centers in that capacity from 2009 until 2012, when she separated from the Air Force. During that time she also held an academic appointment at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She provided imaging support for the pediatric cardiology program at the University of Texas for both intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI/CT programs, as well as postoperative care for military patients on the pediatric cardiology service.

In 2012 she joined Pediatric Cardiology Associates and has continued her focus in cardiac imaging with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and fetal echocardiography. She also continues a heavy focus on inpatient postoperative care for congenital heart patients.

Dr. Kollars was born in Quito, Ecuador, but moved to New Hope, Minnesota, at six months of age. She is fluent in Spanish, but speaks it with a Minnesota accent. In college she was a three sport NCAA athlete, and in fellowship she played the viola in various symphonies. She is married to a cardiac anesthesiologist and they have two wonderful children. They enjoy sailing, cycling, running, and the many family activities San Antonio has to offer.