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Richard Hughes IV        

Lawyer, Biopharmaceutical Advisor & Vaccines Thought Leader and Former Moderna VP

Richard Hughes IV, JD, MPH, is a nationally recognized vaccine thought leader and has led many efforts to expand access to vaccines and preventive services and improve public health outcomes.

Hughes is a partner at Epstein, Becker & Green. He was formerly vice president of public policy at Moderna, guiding the company’s policy strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, he was managing director at Avalere Health, where he founded and led the firm’s vaccines group. Hughes previously held roles with Merck and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Arkansas State Board of Health.

Prior to joining the GW Law faculty, he held an appointment as a professorial lecturer in health policy and management at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. During law school, Hughes proudly served as a research assistant to renowned health law and vaccines scholar Professor Sara Rosenbaum. Hughes received his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School and his Master of Public Health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is barred in the District of Columbia and before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of the United States.

Hughes is also member of the National Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health and has been named among Best Lawyers' "Ones to Watch" in Health Care Law. He publishes regularly in health law and policy journals, frequently writes commentary on Health Affairs Forefront, and is quoted regularly in the news media, including The New York Times and NPR's Marketplace.

Speech Topics


Vaccines-HIV-Preventive Health Care

As the former Vice President of public policy at Moderna and an advisor to many of the world's largest HIV companies, I am frequently shaping the national conversation around vaccines and prevention.

Health Care and Health Policy

I enjoy speaking about the broader historical and contemporary trends in health care and health policy.

Leveraging Strengths

I enjoy motivating teams and other professionals through mentorship - helping them locate and leverage their greatest strengths and finding fulfilling careers.

Building Effective Client Relationships

I have built significant client relationships in my legal and consulting career. I enjoy helping others identify and meet client needs.

Personal and Professional Development and Resilience

As a two-time brain tumor survivor and first generation graduate of college, graduate school and law school, I enjoy connecting my personal experience with my professional presence to help others.

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