Dr. Hughes is a Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon dual boarded in Critical Care. She advocates for patient safety and high-quality care. Her early career experiences include surgical practice in rural Mississippi for 3 years, after which she was recruited by the Mayo Clinic to join the trauma team in Abu Dhabi, UAE. There she served as Trauma Systems Deputy Director and Surgical Critical Care Director, and a member of the Abu Dhabi Trauma Task Force alongside military partners to develop a high-standard trauma system. Dr. Hughes led the effort to utilize whole blood for trauma resuscitations for the first time in the UAE. She also served as clerkship director for the medical students on surgery rotations.
Outside of work, Joy enjoys family time with her husband and two girls. Hiking, skiing, trail riding, and camping are her favorite hobbies. She also enjoys live music and creative writing. Born in Louisiana and raised in Mississippi, she was a rodeo kid with a strong preference for spicy food.
