01/25/2021    Stephen Wan, DPM

The Passing of Joseph M. Hughes, DPM

Dr. Joseph Hughes, CCPM class of 1983, passed
away from a fatal MI at 3 am on Sunday 1/17/2021.
He had exhibited no prior signs and symptoms of
any cardiovascular pathology and had in fact just
returned from a family ski trip to Park City, UT.

Dr. Hughes, known fondly as Joe to his friends,
started his practice in the city of Los Alamitos
after completing his residency in Long Beach.
From the very start, he immersed his professional
energy and devotion into his patients, his
community and the residency program at Lakewood
Regional Medical Center. He and his wife Pam
became staples at Los Alamitos Medical Center and
participated enthusiastically in both the
professional and social life of the hospital
medical staff.

In the 1990s, Joe served on the Board of
Directors of the California Podiatric
Medical Association (CPMA). Upon completing his
term of service, he continued to contribute to
his beloved specialty by becoming a state
coordinator for the APMAPAC (American Podiatric
Medical Association Political Action Committee)
and served uninterrupted in that capacity for
over 25 years until his untimely passing.
Whenever the PAC needed someone to represent
Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at a political
fundraiser, Joe and his equally dynamic wife Pam
could always be counted upon, be it a weekday
evening or on a weekend. At the APMA annual
Legislative Conference in Washington DC
and the annual CPMA Legislative Conference in
Sacramento, Joe and Pam would always attend,
working the halls of legislature and often with
podiatric medical students in tow to engage the
national and state legislators. This type
of decades-long commitment to our specialty is
seldom seen in any generation and is a testament
to Joe’s fierce devotion to Podiatric Medicine
and Surgery. He would never brag about his
accomplishments but was a hard-working, reliable
colleague whose word was his bond.

Ever a person with an eye to Pay it Forward, Joe
was actively involved in the residency program at
Lakewood Regional Medical Center to help develop
the next generation of doctors. His often-
repeated mantra had been “Not only do the
residents need to learn the how of surgery but
also the when, why, when not and why not and what
to do when complications occur”. Future residents
will indeed miss Joe’s valuable insight and
experience. He enjoyed the company of others with
kindness and generosity. Residents and visiting
students would often be invited by Pam and Joe to
their house for a cookout, an impromptu party or
a casual dinner.

An avid scuba diver, skier and sailor, Joe
travelled the world to pursue these hobbies with
his family. When not in the water or on the
slopes during vacations, he would patiently tag
along, with a smile on his face, whenever Pam and
her friends would duck endlessly into local
shops, knowing that resistance was futile.

Joe is survived by his devoted wife and life-long
partner Pam and their 4 sons.

How, then, do we sum up a life well-led? Loving-
devotion, commitment, kindness, generosity and
humility come to mind right away whenever Dr. Joe
Hughes’ name is mentioned. Joe is a hard act to
follow and will be greatly missed indeed.

Stephen Wan, DPM

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