Dora Hughes, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.

Dora Hughes, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.
Counselor for Science and Public Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Washington, D.C.


Dr. Dora Hughes is the counselor for science and public health to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Prior to joining the HHS, Dr. Hughes advised then Senator Barack Obama on a broad range of health issues and helped to develop his national policy and legislative agenda. She previously served as deputy director for health for Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in the United States Senate. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Dr. Hughes served as senior program officer at The Commonwealth Fund, a national health foundation in New York City.

Dr. Hughes completed medical school at Vanderbilt University and internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She then completed the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy, earning a master of public health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Hughes is board-certified in internal medicine.