Allen Wolfe and Ben Hughes Alumni Lecture

Ben Hughes, DNP, MSN, MS, RN, NEA-BC

Dr. Ben Hughes is the Nursing Operations Director for the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Service at University of Kentucky Healthcare.  He oversees the adult and pediatric trauma programs, nine inpatient trauma/surgical intensive care units. Ben was the Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety for University of Louisville Hospital. During his tenure, he had service line responsibility for the trauma, stroke, cardiovascular, and pulmonary service lines. His clinical background has been in trauma resuscitation, surgical and cardiovascular critical care, and was a flight nurse for many years with MedSTAR transport. His research interests are in nursing well-being and front-line managerial burnout.  He completed his BSN from The Catholic University of America. He has an MSN degree as a critical care clinical nurse specialist and an MS degree in healthcare management; both obtained from Marymount University.  In 2022, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben completed his DNP degree from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing.  He has served on local and national board of directors such as the Kentucky Nurses Association and the American Red Cross. 

Allen C. Wolfe Jr., MSN, CNS, APRN, CFRN, CCRN, CTRN, TCRN, CMTE, FAASTN

Allen C. Wolfe is the Senior Director of Education at Life Link III – Minneapolis, MN., where he leads education and clinical performance for more than 100 flight clinicians across 12 air medical bases in Minnesota and Wisconsin. With over three decades in air medical transport, Allen began his career as a flight nurse with MedSTAR in Washington, DC, and later served as Chief Flight Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist. He held national leadership roles at Air Methods Corporation, directing clinical education and quality for over 1,400 clinicians. A recognized expert in LVAD transport, Allen developed a prehospital color-coding system later adopted by Abbott and recognized as a best practice. He is a frequent conference speaker, published author, and co-editor of Principles and Practice. His contributions have earned multiple national awards, including the Katz-Mason Award, Jordan Award, Barbara A. Hess Award, and the Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award. Allen also served as President of ASTNA and on the BCEN board.