Doctors are people too. In Behind the White Coat, Jefferson City Magazine takes readers beyond the practice to reveal the personal stories of local physicians.

Haleigh Hughes, DO | Family Medicine, Non-Operative Orthopedic | SSM Health

My name is Dr. Haleigh Hughes, and I grew up on a small hobby farm in Dearborn, Missouri.
I cannot remember a time when I did not want to be a physician. From a young age, I loved reading biology and anatomy books. At age 18, I competed in the INTEL (International Science and Engineering) Fair.

I first attended Truman State University, where my passion for medicine and science continued to grow. During my time there, I took a marathon training class and became an avid distance runner. I then attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine on a health profession scholarship through the United States Air Force and completed my family medicine residency in Omaha, Nebraska, which is where I met my husband, Sam. Crossing the finish line of my first marathon, getting accepted to medical school, running my first code without an attending present, and marrying Sam have been some of the biggest moments of my life.

We were eventually stationed at Misawa Air Force Base in Northern Japan, which ended up being a transformative four years that helped me grow as a physician and a person. During this time, we also welcomed our first child.

After completing my commitment in the Air Force, I attended a sports medicine fellowship at the Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute in Northeast Pennsylvania. We moved back to Missouri in September, and I am thrilled to have a job opportunity where I can practice both family medicine and sports medicine. The most challenging part of being a physician can be when a patient comes in wanting something (a prescription, test ordered, medical clearance note, etc.) that I think is clinically inappropriate. I obviously want my patients to like me and feel satisfied with the care they receive. However, I took an oath to “first do no harm” and sometimes that means what the patient wants me to do is not always what’s best for them. My goal is to get my patients well enough that they are able to get off of medications because they have implemented healthy lifestyle changes.

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time chasing around my children and hanging out with my husband. I love running and exercising, horseback riding, and trying new recipes. We love the sense of community and the local businesses in Jefferson City.

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