Michelle Hughes, MD

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Division Chief, Emergency Medicine Simulation
Fellowship Director, Emergency Medicine Simulation
Physician Lead for Clinical Scheduling

Clinical information Publications

EDUCATION

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Residency: University of Chicago Medical Center
Fellowship: Cook County Health/Rush University Medical Center – Simulation

Dr. Michelle Hughes grew up on the East Coast and completed medical school at the University of Maryland. She moved to the Midwest for her emergency medicine residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center and stayed in Chicago to complete a simulation fellowship with the Rush/Cook County Hospital System. Her medical interests include simulation-based education for residents and simulation-based, inter-professional education.

Dr. Hughes serves as Director of Medical Simulation in charge of the resident simulation education at the University of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine. She also serves as the director of the simulation fellowship program. Additionally Dr. Hughes has created and implemented our Advanced Clinical Education and Skills (ACES) Sessions for both faculty as well as APP groups for ongoing high yield education.

Nationally, Dr. Hughes is actively involved in simulation organizations and has been a board member in the Emergency Medicine Section of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), as well as the Simulation Academy of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). She has recently served as Secretary on both the SAEM Simulation Academy Executive Board and the SSH Emergency Medicine Section and remains active with both organizations. She hopes to continue to build the simulation program at the University of Wisconsin and add to the medical education of the students and residents.

Dr. Hughes also has an interest in diversity, equity and inclusion and is actively involved in a national group addressing DEI teaching through simulation.

SELECT HONORS & AWARDS

• Early Career Educator Award, SAEM Simulation Academy (2025)
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical Care, BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine (2024)
• Emerging Leader Award, Society of Simulation in Healthcare Emergency Medicine Section (2023)
• Simulationist of the Year, UW Health Clinical Simulation Program (2022)