Home Institution:
University of California, San Francisco
Field:
General Medicine
Position:
Clinical Professor of Medicine Emerita, University of California, San Francisco
Healthy Aging: Thriving Across the Lifespan
Dr. Hughes, a primary care physician, was inspired by her patients to understand what helps them not only to survive but to fully thrive throughout a long life. As an Institute Scholar she studied the many ways in which people age—on molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and cellular levels; as a whole organism; and as a member of a community.
Dr. Hughes examined cutting-edge research, including studies of centenarians and societies where people live the longest, to uncover some of the powerful predictors of healthy aging, such as positive emotions, restorative sleep, and a connection with something greater than oneself. Recognizing that knowledge by itself does not always spur change, Dr. Hughes also examined how people adopt and change behaviors, and identified ways to inspire and support healthy lifestyle choices.
Ellen Hughes, MD, was an award-winning medical educator and primary care physician. After receiving her doctorate in cell biology and completing a post-doctoral fellowship in exercise physiology, she received her medical training at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).
Dr. Hughes did extensive work in integrative medicine, studying traditional healing systems, herbal medicine, five-element acupuncture, and mindfulness meditation. In 1997, she was instrumental in establishing the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF, where she served as its first director and later, as director of education.
In 2008, she completed a five-year education grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), integrating complementary medicine into the required medical school curriculum. She collaborated on a National Institutes of Health grant to develop and implement social and behavioral science curricula for undergraduate medical education, with an emphasis on mind-body medicine, spirituality and health, and sociocultural aspects of health and healing.
See moreAs a revered educator at UCSF School of Medicine, Dr. Hughes was awarded the prestigious Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching by UCSF clinical faculty, the first Osler Teaching Award by the class of 2008, and the first Humanism in Medicine Award by the class of 2000. She was selected to be a founding member of the Academy of Medical Educators at UCSF, and chosen to serve as a senior faculty mentor for one of the three advising colleges for entering UCSF medical students.
MD and residency in primary care internal medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship, exercise physiology, University of California, Berkeley
PhD, cell biology, UC Berkeley
AB, biology, Northwestern University
Most Inspiring Teacher Award, 2013
First Osler Teaching Award recipient, 2008
Dedication to Building Clinical Foundations Award, 2003
Inaugural member of the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators, 2001
First Humanism in Medicine Award recipient, 2000
See moreMost Dedicated Clinical Professor Award, 1998
Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1996
Major Contribution to Teaching and Excellence Award, 1998
Outstanding Clinical Preceptor Award, 1997
Excellence in Clinical Skills Instruction Award, 1997
Pre-Clinical Teaching Award, 1996
Named one of Bay Area’s Best Physicians by SF Focus Magazine, 1999, 1997
Numerous nominations from students and faculty for awards such as:
Most Inspirational Teacher, 2007
Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2006
Excellence in Small Group Instruction, 2006
Crede Award for Teaching, Division of General Internal Medicine, 2005
Outstanding Lecture, 2003
Major Contribution to Teaching Award, 2003
Co- author, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in Behavioral Medicine in Primary Care: A Guide for Clinical Practice, third edition, 2007
Co-author, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2008 (also 2007 edition)
See moreCo-author, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2006 (also 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 editions)
Co-author, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in Behavioral Medicine in Primary Care: A Practical Guide, second edition, 2003
Author, Overview of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine, and Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine into Clinical Practice, in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2001
Collaborations between allopathic and complementary and alternative medicine health professionals: four initiatives.
Academic Medicine, October 2007
Emotion skills training for medical students: a systematic review.
Medical Education, October 2007
Student ‘moles’: revealing the hidden curriculum.
Medical Education, May 2006
An International Conference on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Research.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, May 2001
What did we learn about the impact on students’ clinical education?
Academic Medicine, April 2001