Mary Catherine “Cathy” Duncan, RN, who was recognized at the UAB Medicine Service Awards Luncheon for 45 years of service, will retire on May 15, 2026.
Duncan has spent the last 15 of those years working as a Clinical Care Coordinator with the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery. Her career has spanned generations of patients, surgeons, and trainees – serving as a constant presence in the formation of the UAB we’ve come to know today.
Duncan graduated from the UAB School of Nursing and began her career in 1980 at HealthSouth Hospital, now UAB Highlands, and has spent most of her career in surgical services. At the Service Awards Luncheon, she was invited on stage to receive a bouquet and a pair of leg warmers, a reference to the era in which she began her career.
"Cathy has been a steady, organizing presence behind so much of what makes our division run, and her care for patients and colleagues alike is something we have all come to rely on," said Daniel I. Chu, M.D., MSPH, FASCRS, director of the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, Endowed Chair. "Forty-five years of service is an extraordinary commitment, and her impact on our team will be felt long after she retires."
In retirement, Cathy looks forward to traveling and embracing new adventures. While she may be stepping away from her role, the systems she strengthened and the culture she helped shape will continue to guide the division forward.
"This has been my home for 45 years,” Duncan said. “I am grateful to the patients who trusted me with their care, to the colleagues who became friends, and to UAB for giving me the chance to spend my career here."
The Department of Surgery honors her years of service, her enduring presence, and the strong foundation she leaves for those who follow – wishing her all the best in this new chapter.