Adam Lucy, M.D., MSHQS, a chief general surgery resident, begins his days at UAB Hospital reviewing patient charts over caffeine and music. He then leads a team of students and junior residents through early rounds before the operating rooms are fully in motion. Each morning sets the tone for a fast-paced day focused on patient care and surgical training.
A Birmingham native, Lucy graduated from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in 2019 and remained at UAB for his general surgery residency. Early on, general surgery appealed to him for its pace, range, and the ability to care for patients before, during, and after surgery. “I like seeing faster patient trajectories, using my hands, and changing physiology in real time,” Lucy said.
During general surgery residency, “we have our inpatients, see consults, co-manage ICU patients, operate, do smaller procedures, and go to clinic all at the same time,” Lucy explained. While the workload can be demanding, the experience has made him more efficient and adaptable across multiple settings of healthcare.
Mentorship plays an important role for Lucy, shaped by attendings who intentionally invest in resident development. He believes that mentorship is not one-size-fits-all and that it is important to have different mentors across clinical work, research, career guidance, and life. That perspective influences how he learns from those around him. “Take bits and pieces from all these different people teaching you so you can figure out what works for you and build your own approach as a physician,” he said. Lucy has also dedicated himself to mentoring medical students, serving as a volunteer housestaff mentor for the Hill Learning Community.
Lucy carries this same mindset into how he teaches and supervises junior residents and medical students. He finds it most rewarding to see their hunger and eagerness to learn, which reminds him of where he began and how much he has grown throughout his training. Those moments reinforce the importance of supporting trainees as they develop their own clinical judgement and confidence.
Direct patient experiences have left a lasting impact during Lucy’s residency. He recalls that on his first day as a resident, he assisted in surgery for a patient with a large thigh mass. The patient remembered Lucy’s name and would ask for him each day, something that stood out to Lucy early in his training. This experience showed him that patients even view interns as their doctor: “We should take pride in that, own the responsibility and take it seriously.”
As he prepares for the next chapter of fellowship training in trauma critical care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, Lucy is grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and patients who have guided his journey. The training he received at UAB has equipped him for the next phase in his career. “Surgical residency training is hard, and in my opinion, it’s supposed to be,” he shared. “But it’s also one of the most rewarding, challenging, and satisfying careers in medicine. I would not want to do anything else.”