Dr. Inna Hughes Appointed Interim Chief of Child Neurology
Inna Hughes, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, has been appointed Interim Chief of Child Neurology at Golisano Children’s Hospital. A member of the URMC community since 2007, Hughes brings deep expertise in pediatric epilepsy, a strong commitment to education, and a patient-centered approach to leadership.
Interestingly, neurology was not her initial career aspiration. “Neurology was the only subject in medical school I did not tutor,” she recalls. “I scheduled it as my first clinical rotation because I was certain it would not become my specialty.” That certainty changed during a single day on the service. After caring for an 80-year-old adult patient who had suffered a catastrophic stroke, Hughes encountered a 10-year-old child who had sustained an almost identical injury as an infant.
“I expected to find a severely impaired patient,” she says. “Instead, I met a bright, energetic child thriving in school, with only minimal physical limitations. The difference between what an adult brain experiences and what a developing brain can overcome was extraordinary—and it captured my imagination.” From that point forward, her path was clear.
After completing her MD and PhD training at Washington University in St. Louis, Hughes joined the University of Rochester for residency and fellowship, where she discovered her passion for the field of epilepsy. “Within my first week on the epilepsy monitoring unit, I realized it was the most fascinating area of neurology,” she explains. “It draws upon every discipline—biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology—and challenges us to use everything we know.”
As interim chief, Hughes’s primary goal, given recent uncertainties in federal funding for care for underserved populations, is to maintain continuity of care for the nearly 13,000 patients served annually by the division. “Our foremost responsibility is to ensure stability for our patients and support for our faculty and staff,” she notes. “If we can achieve that and continue to grow, that will be an outstanding outcome.”
Growth is already underway, spurred by collaborations with the Neurosurgery department, new research endeavors, and new specialty clinics. The recent addition of Melissa LoPresti, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, strengthens the team’s ability to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for children with complex neurological conditions. Beyond surgery, the division is enhancing diagnostic capabilities, expanding access to advanced therapies, and building partnerships across specialties to improve outcomes for patients and families. “Together, we’re shaping a program that combines cutting-edge science with compassionate care to help every child with neurologic conditions to live their best life,” said Hughes.
That focus on quality of life is central to Hughes’s philosophy. “Medicine has evolved in recognizing that individuals with chronic conditions are not broken,” she says. “Our role is not always to ‘fix,’ but to help patients get the best outcomes on their terms.”
In addition to her clinical and leadership responsibilities, Hughes is deeply committed to education and community outreach. “Neurology can be intimidating,” she acknowledges. “We view teaching—whether to families, community providers, or advocacy groups—as an essential part of our mission. The more people understand about the brain and neurological disorders, the better equipped they are to support those affected.”
