Dr. Robert J. Hughes Elected President of State Medical Society

WESTBURY, NY (04/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Saratoga Springs, NY (4/23/12) – Saratoga otolaryngologist, Robert J. Hughes, MD, was elected President of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) at its 206th annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Saratoga Springs, NY, on April 21. This past year, Dr Hughes was a member of the Governor's Medicaid Redesign Team. He also serves committees in regards to the NYS health exchange as a stakeholder's representative. Dr. Hughes brings a valuable perspective to the medical society, coming from a family of physicians – his parents, Richard Hughes, MD, and Betty L. Voelker, MD, three sisters who practice medicine in New Jersey and three brothers who practice in New York State.

Dr. Hughes earned his medical degree from Creighton University Medical School and his internship training and general surgery residency training at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. He completed his otolaryngology-head and neck surgery training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where he also earned certification in this specialty from the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and of the American College of Surgeons, as well as an Associate of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.

Dr. Hughes is particularly noted for his public health commitment to reducing the number of New Yorkers exposed to smoke, through education and legislation. He, therefore, chaired MSSNY's Task Force on Tobacco. Dr. Hughes currently serves on the MSSNY advisory committee for physician health. Dr. Hughes also served as president of both his state specialty medical society and MSSNY's Fourth District. He was MSSNY Treasurer for four years, Assistant Treasurer for two and a MSSNY Councilor for five. Dr. Hughes has chaired MSSNY's state candidate evaluation committee, federal evaluation committee and legislative advocacy committee, as well as currently serving as chair of the MSSNYPAC executive committee. He has previously served on the collective bargaining task force. He has been a delegate to MSSNY's House of Delegates for 20 years and is entering his sixth year as a delegate to the AMA. He has chaired a committee to look at the structure and organization of MSSNY in the past. He has special interest in education as exemplified by his having served the board of St. Mary's Regional Catholic School for six years.

Dr. Hughes has participated on the board of an IPA, MVMA, since 1992. He has also served briefly with Kaiser Permanante as a medical director from 1998 to 1999. He is committed to assuring physicians involvement with insurers in a constructive and influential way.

Dr. Hughes cares for patients at his otolaryngology and allergy practice in Saratoga County as well as at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, where he is a staff physician.

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