Ellen F. Hughes, MD, PhD

Scholar Project

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.

Biography

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.