His primary interest is in the management of patients with interstitial lung disease, including how best to diagnose and treat interstitial lung disease and how the condition impacts a patient's quality of life and survival. Collard earned a medical degree at Duke University. He completed an internship, residency and chief residency in internal medicine at UCSF as well as a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Colorado. Prior to joining UCSF, Collard was a member of the Interstitial Lung Disease Program at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.