Jo Hughes

Mercedes Dodge is a Board-Certified PA with a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Psychiatry and past experience in Family Medicine, Pediatric Medicine, Urgent Care, and Women’s Health. . PA Dodge completed her undergraduate education in Psychology and Biology at Rice University, worked as an Emergency Medical Technician and then a researcher in both laboratory and clinical work at Baylor College of Medicine and University of California, Davis, respectively. She trained as a PA at the University of California - Davis Medical School and holds an M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. PA Dodge has served in many leadership positions including Director at Large for the California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA) and President of the San Diego Physician Assistant Society (SDSPA). She has been an active member of the AAPA, Central Texas Physician Assistant Society, Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants, PAs in Virtual Medicine and Telemedicine, and the Association of PAs in Psychiatry. She serves as President for PAs in Virtual Medicine and Telemedicine (2022-2023), and Secretary for the Association of PAs in Psychiatry. She is an advocate for children and families as she works also as a parent educator and parent advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in her own children's schools.

Founder and Lead Clinician of Piedmont Partners for Mental Health, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Jo Hughes of Greensboro, North Carolina is a psychiatric certified physician associate (PA) working in an outpatient setting with trained clinical team. She provides treatment for a variety of psychiatric conditions, specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders in children, adolescents, and adults and substance use disorders.

Dr. Hughes completed her PA training and Master of Medical Science at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and additionally holds a Doctor of Medical Science in psychiatry from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. She is a certified PA with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry.

Dr. Hughes is currently the President with Association of PA's in Psychiatry (APAP) and is involved with North Carolina Association for PA’s (NCAPA) at the committee level in educating PA’s.

Jo and her husband are frequently seen visiting a non-profit coffee house they co-founded employing adults with neurodiversity in Greensboro, North Carolina.