Benjamin Hughes, MD

Care Philosophy

When my 4-year-old son asks what I do at work, I am struck by how lucky I am to reply, “I help kids breathe and sleep better.” Breathing and sleep are fundamental to health and happiness, and it is a tremendous privilege to care for children with breathing and sleep disorders in a wide range of settings, from the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units to outpatient clinic, the sleep laboratory, and the operating room. I aim to be the best part of a family's worst day--when their child is sick--and to build successful long-term relationships with families based on respect, empathy, and shared decision-making to pursue the goal of healthy breathing and sleep for each child. I am passionate about delivering high quality care that is both effective and accessible. To bring such care to children with breathing and sleep disorders in the western Colorado region, I have built and expanded clinical programs in Grand Junction, Durango, and Montrose, and I embrace technologies such as telemedicine to bring care to the patient instead of relying on the patient and family to travel long distances to access care. I strive to partner with families and primary care providers to achieve the best result for each child, no matter where they live. There are many things I love about working at Children’s Hospital Colorado, but what stands out most is the incredible teamwork that I am privileged to witness every day. In many cases, it really does "take a village", and I am constantly humbled by the ways that other doctors and advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other team members continuously step up on behalf of the children whose care is entrusted to us.