Sarah
Hughes
University of Michigan
United States
Sarah Hughes is a medical student at the University of Michigan with a strong interest in otolaryngology, communication science, and accessible healthcare design. Her research focuses on addressing communication barriers in high-noise clinical environments through innovative AI-driven technologies. She is passionate about advancing health equity, team communication, and well-being in surgical and interprofessional settings, aiming to create more inclusive and effective healthcare environments.
Presenting at CAB 2025:
This innovative, customizable clinical rotation model immerses healthcare learners in experiential interprofessional education, involving collaboration with diverse professionals in nursing, dentistry, audiology, speech-language pathology, and medicine. Using a validated assessment tool and reflective practices, the program develops essential team-based care skills, bridging gaps in pre-licensure training and advancing patient-centered outcomes.
This project tackles critical communication barriers in noisy operating rooms using AI-based solutions. By integrating wearable technology and centralized audio systems, it improves speech clarity, reduces cognitive strain, and enhances interprofessional collaboration, fostering safety, accessibility, and efficiency in surgical care while offering scalable solutions for broader clinical environments.