Patrick Hughes II, MD

'I chose to join Essentia Health because it is an excellent health care system that provides top-tier patient care, and I am excited to be a part of it,' said Patrick Hughes, MD. 'Although I grew up in Central Wisconsin, my wife is from Duluth, MN, and we have lived here for over four years. It is an amazing place with wonderful people.' With a special interest in cardiovascular emergencies, Dr. Hughes spent a year as a cardiology fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, MA, just out of residency. He appreciates this field of medicine as it offers research to inform practice, massive quality of life improvements for patients, and it is a large part of what is seen in the Emergency Department. Dr. Hughes chose to specialize in emergency medicine because the Emergency Department must be able to address anything that comes through the door. It offers a constant challenge and opportunity to improve. The unique mix of stress, excitement, and teamwork attracts the best coworkers. 'I …understand how stressful visits to the Emergency Department can be when faced with health scares about yourself or your family,' said Patrick. 'I will always strive to be compassionate and provide excellent care to you and your loved ones.' Patrick's wife, Karin (Britta) Knutson, is an OB/GYN at Essentia. They have a two-year-old son as well as two dogs. In his free time, Patrick enjoys woodturning, home improvement projects, audiobooks, and spending time with friends and family.