At the heart of Hugo's leadership as a researcher, physician, and educator is a commitment to improving the well-being of communities. He is a PhD Candidate at Memorial's Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences. Hugo's research engages key informants and seafarers with lived experience from coast to coast to coast to assess mental health issues in the maritime industry. Hugo received an MSc in 2021 and an MD in 2018, studying and practicing in Sucre, Bolivia.

Enriching tenures with the Ulrich and Frank Foundation for International Health and the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) underline Hugo's impact. With these organizations, he has led interdisciplinary teams on a range of projects, from training on tobacco legislation in the Caribbean to developing IPCRG's e-learning platform for primary care workers around the globe.