Jaquelyne Hughes facts for kids
Jaquelyne Hughes is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman. She is a top researcher at Menzies School of Health Research, which is part of Charles Darwin University. Dr. Hughes is also a nephrologist, which means she is a special doctor who helps people with their kidneys. She works at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Her Journey in Medicine
Dr. Hughes studied medicine at the University of Newcastle. She finished her medical degree in 2000. Later, in 2007, she became a specialist in kidney health. She also earned a special higher degree, called a PhD, from Charles Darwin University in 2013.
Dr. Hughes has done a lot to help people with kidney problems. She helped create a group called the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplantation Registry (ANZDATA) Indigenous Working Group. This group started in 2014. It helps make sure Indigenous people get good kidney care. She also advises another group, Kidney Health Australia, on Indigenous kidney health.
One of her most important projects was a report for the Menzies School of Health Research. She led the team that wrote it. The report showed that many Indigenous patients had to travel very far, sometimes over 1000 kilometers, to get dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys don't work well. This long travel made it hard for some patients to continue their treatment. Dr. Hughes's report suggested big changes to make kidney care easier for these communities.
She has written more than 40 research papers. These papers share important information about health and medicine.
Awards and Achievements
Dr. Hughes has received many awards for her important work:
- 2012 Northern Territory Tall Poppy Winner
- 2013 Top End (NT) NAIDOC Person of the Year
- 2016 Harry Christian Giese – Research into Action Award
- 2018 Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award finalist
- 2019 Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association Indigenous Doctor of The Year
