Katie Hughes, PA-C

Katie Hughes, PA-C is a certified Physician Assistant with a strong foundation in exercise science and female athlete health. She is passionate about optimizing performance, recovery, and long-term health through an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to care.

Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Purdue University, where she was also a Division I distance swimmer. Her experience as a collegiate athlete informs her clinical perspective and allows her to understand firsthand the physical and mental demands placed on competitive and recreational athletes.

During her undergraduate training, Katie worked in the Physical Activity and NeuroCognitive Health (PANCH) Research Lab at Purdue University. Her research focused on the effects of acute exercise on brain function, including the impact of maximal aerobic exercise on executive function in adults, the relationship between exercise and creative thinking, and the effects of aerobic activity on hippocampal-dependent memory in children.

Katie went on to earn her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Cornell University, where she received comprehensive clinical training across a wide range of medical and surgical specialties. Her graduate thesis proposal explored the use of probiotics in the management of the Female Athlete Triad, with a specific focus on how modulation of the gut microbiome and gut–brain axis may improve energy availability and overall athlete health.

Katie is committed to collaborative care and values patient education, injury prevention, and individualized treatment plans. She strives to help patients safely return to the activities they enjoy while supporting both performance and long-term well-being.