MSDC Member Profile: Dr. Kathryn Hughes July 31, 2026

1. Why do you belong to MSDC? What made you join, and what keeps you engaged?

I am newly relocated to DC, and I joined MSDC to connect with physician colleagues – participating in organized medicine, whether a local/state society or a specialty organization, is another expression of my calling, the call to Service and to the profession of medicine. Our profession is very much a calling based in service, as we care for our patients and our communities. The opportunity to extend that service to colleagues and to our profession as a whole, and by doing so have a greater impact on our collective patients and communities, is a natural progression and evolution of this call to service and to medicine. Connecting with other physicians who share the same sense of service is inspiring and keeps me motivated to continue to engage and participate, as well as bolstering my energy and enthusiasm in the day to day of my practice and patient care.

2. If you could have dinner with any historical figure (medical or otherwise), who would it be and what would you ask them?

I have trouble picking just one person – women in history have mostly been in the shadows and behind the scenes, and some of the remarkable and inspiring men in history may not have quite as much to say to me as I might hope (as a woman and as a surgeon), and that might just tarnish them forever in my eyes.

So, instead, I would like to imagine a little dinner party… no, even better a tea— with some groundbreaking and inspiring women in medicine and Surgery, who have persevered against all odds and who purposely and intentionally laid out a path and open the doors for other women like me to follow. My party would include Margaret Ann Bulkley who practiced under the name of Dr. James Barry, disguised as a man, and who is regarded first recorded woman Surgeon in “modern” times(she was in England); Dr. Mary Walker, the first American woman Surgeon; Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician (who practiced OB/GYN as surgery was closed to her); Dr. Virginia Apgar, who is still remembered for the Apgar score which is still in used to this day, and who shares my undergraduate alma mater Mount Holyoke College, the oldest continuous women’s college here in the United States; and finally, Dr. Kathryn Anderson, the first woman president of the American College of Surgeons and a graduate of the oldest women’s college in England (Mount Holyoke is older, lol) who was also my role model and mentor in medical school and residency. We would talk about women in medicine and surgery, women’s education, what advances we have made over time, what important work remains to be done for women in medicine and surgery, and how we might offer advice to move that agenda forward.

That, or Julia Child (another women’s college graduate, Smith College) where our conversation may similarly cover the role of women, women’s education, women working in traditionally male spaces, and of course, cooking and the generous use of butter.

3. What's one piece of advice you'd give to a physician just starting their practice in the DC area?

My advice to a young physician just starting in practice is to Join; join everything. Join committees in the Hospital, committees  in your practice, your specialty society, your local medical societies and medical organizations, even organizations based on your special interests. Making connections is extremely important and will sustain you throughout your career. We are stronger and more effective both personally and professionally when we have the support and mentorship of colleagues and friends, and this builds a foundation of connection for the times when our collective voice is needed,  strengthened as we advocate for our patients, our communities, our profession, but also ultimately for ourselves.