Dr. Katherine Cannon Hughes, 36. Our beloved and adored Dr. Katherine Lynne Cannon Hughes passed peacefully on November 10, 2017 after a courageous and inspiring battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at her home in Princeton. For 36 years Katherine embraced life with total enthusiasm and gifted her heart and her mind to others without regard for self! All who met her even for a moment were captivated by her grace, her charm, her energy, and her empathy.
Among Katherine’s many accomplishments are her academic successes at The Lawrenceville School in Princeton NJ and at Brown University for Bachelors and Masters degrees. She completed a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey followed by an OBGYN Medical Residency at RWJ Barnabas Hospital in 2016. Her global focus was apparent in her comparative research study of healthcare in US, Peru and France. Other presentations and research included: The Physician Experience in the Era of Cost Containment. Brown University Press; Cell Salvage in Obstetrics & Gynecology: utilization review & cost v. benefit analysis; and Rapid Prototyping technique for designing joints using Bezier curves.
Katherine’s leadership roles and awards include: Sidney Leftkovics Outstanding Resident Research Award nominee; Undergraduate Medical Education Chief Resident; Graduate Medical Education Committee, Resident representative ; Rutgers-NJMS Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching award; American Osteopathic Association Council of Student Affairs, Regional Representative; Community Planning & Advocacy Council of Camden, NJ; Jerrothia Riggs Education Award; UMDNJ-SOM Student Council Executive Board, President & Executive Committee Chair; Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents; UMDNJ Student Senate Executive Council, Senator & Co-chair Senate Academic Affairs Committee; UMDNJ Student Senate Award for leadership and service ;Brown University 1764 Society Award for young alumni leadership; recipient Brown University Teaching Assistantship, faculty appointment and research award.
In 2016 Katherine’s devotion to women’s health shaped her choice to join New Beginnings in Springfield NJ. She was overjoyed to care for women and excited to deliver babies at any hour of the day or night. She prayed that she would live to return to her medical practice.
Known for her incredible capacity to perform and her endurance, she was fondly referred to by her students as Onco Bronco. Medical Residents saw her as a team player and a spirited teacher. Her most outstanding performance was to give birth to her two sons in 2014 and 2015 during medical residency.
Exceedingly well rounded, Katherine had traveled worldwide and spoke several languages. She was an amazing figure skater and a diverse athlete who starred in track and field hockey. Staying fit was a life goal and all who knew her recall her fitness regimen even during her illness this year.
Katherine is survived by her beloved husband, Dr. Wray Hughes and the brightest and sweetest lights in her life, her sons, 3 year old Jackson Cannon Hughes and 2 year old Harrison Edward Hughes as well as her Mother, J Lynne Cannon and her sister, Jacqueline Cannon. For her husband and her whole family, Katherine was a shining, loving and beautiful force of nature and her spirit will be with them and live on forever in her sons.
A special fund will be established to continue Katherine’s mission to improve and support healthcare for women.
Katherine’s funeral arrangements are under the care of Mulligan Funeral Home, Harrison, NJ.
The funeral will be conducted from Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue Princeton, NJ 08542. A funeral mass will be held at Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Princeton on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 10:30am. Her Interment will follow in Saint Paul’s Church Cemetery, Princeton. Friends and neighbors may call at Kimble Funeral Home on Thursday, November 16th from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9pm. There will be no viewing hours on Friday morning. Kindly meet us at Saint Paul’s R.C. Church.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to: Dr. Katherine Lynne Cannon Cancer Fund, c/o Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Foundation 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, NJ 08690 and/or The Dr. Katherine Cannon Hughes Women Physicians Education Fund at Cooper University Hospital c/o The Cooper Foundation in loving memory of Katherine.
For directions, or to sign her guest book, please visit www.thekimblefuneralhome.com.
