Meet Brian Hughes
Brian Hughes brings his extensive lived experience with racial health disparities and expertise in healthy lifestyle changes and self-care to in-person and virtual events as a professional keynote speaker and storyteller. Beginning in 2014 at the age of 55 through 2017, Brian was diagnosed with a series of serious medical conditions including – hypertension, diabetes, diabetes-caused disability, mini-strokes, heart attack, and kidney disease.
This challenging medical journey has impacted Brian’s physical health, mental well-being, relationships, career, and overall lifestyle. As a Black American man, Brian is not alone. Black Americans face significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney disease than White Americans due to a combination of genetic, socioeconomic, and healthcare-related factors. Brian brings together his personal lived experience, powerful storytelling, and proven research to speaking and storytelling engagements to help reduce racial health disparities and prevent disability and premature death. Brian has a passionate commitment to influence and motivate Black Americans to make healthy lifestyle changes to ensure better health and wellbeing for themselves and their future generations. His unique and powerful disease prevention and management messaging helps reduce health disparities and save Black lives.
The Tremendous Power of Personal Storytelling
Human connection brings us so many physical, mental, and emotional well-being benefits. And while there are plenty of ways to connect with one another, one art form stands out: storytelling.
Brian Hughes developed his professional speaking and storytelling talents throughout a Fortune 500 corporate and entrepreneurial marketing and sales career of over 30 years. He was formally educated at the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
The Empowering Value of Patient Education
For the past decade Brian Hughes has received continuous patient education and development experiences from Mayo Clinic, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Adaptive Sports and Recreation all in Jacksonville, FL as well as the National Kidney Foundation and American Kidney Fund. Patient education is essential for empowering individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being. By providing clear, accurate, and accessible information, healthcare professionals help patients like Brian understand their conditions, treatment options, preventive measures, lifestyle changes, and self-care best practices.
Brian's Key Speaking Takeaways
Why Regular Exercise Should Be a Priority for Black Men and Women
“Every person benefits from exercise, no matter their age, sex or physical ability. For Black men and women who have hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease —the benefits of exercise can’t be overstated.”
“The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity for Black adults and seniors to prevent serious diseases is hard to ignore.”
“Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise healthy HDL cholesterol, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce anxiety, and improve your general well-being.”
Benefits of Healthier Eating For The Black Communty
“Nourishing our bodies with healthier foods and drinks is more than a choice—it’s a powerful act of self-care and survival. For Black Americans, prioritizing wholesome nutrition can be the key to preventing kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease—conditions that disproportionately impact our communities. Every mindful bite and sip is a step toward longevity, strength, and a future free from preventable illness.”
Vital Importance of Mental Health and Well-Being
“Nurturing your mind and emotions isn’t just self-care—it’s disease prevention. A calm mind and a resilient spirit can heal, protect, and transform the body in ways medicine alone never can. Mindfulness calms the mind, gratitude warms the heart, and deep connections nourish the soul—together, they create the foundation for true well-being.”
Regular Check-Ups and Tests
“Regular medical check-ups and routine tests are essential for preventing chronic diseases by detecting risk factors
early often before symptoms appear. These visits allow healthcare providers to monitor vital health indicators like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight, which are critical for identifying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Early detection enables timely intervention, making it possible to manage or even reverse the progression of disease, ultimately improving long-term health outcomes and quality of life.”
Passionate Volunteer Advocacy
Brian volunteers as a Kidney Health Coach for the American Kidney Fund (AKF) where he passionately raises awareness about kidney disease and its risk factors and help people learn how to prevent kidney disease and kidney failure. He performs motivational keynotes and workshops that encourage people to get tested and make lifestyle changes to keep their kidneys healthy.
Following completion of the National Kidney Foundation ® (NKF) PEER Mentor training program, Brian supports others who are coping with kidney disease by answering their questions and simply talking with them about kidney disease, dialysis, transplant, or living kidney donation. NKF Peers is a 1-to-1 peer mentoring program, where kidney patients are connected with a trained peer mentor who has been there themselves.
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