By Kym McNicholas, CEO, Global PAD Association

Technical excellence in medicine is necessary, but it is not sufficient. For patients navigating the complex journey of peripheral artery disease, the quality of human connection with their physician can be as important as the procedure performed itself. This truth lies at the heart of why we recently honored Dr. George Adams, Interventional Cardiologist and Director of Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Research at UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina, with our 2025 Compassion and PAD Care Award.

What makes Dr. Adams’ compassion particularly remarkable is how he maintains this human connection despite the immense demands of his multiple professional roles. When a patient needs him, everything else pauses. We’ve heard accounts of him interrupting live educational broadcasts to check on patients from the previous day – a small gesture that may seem minor to the doctor, but speaks volumes about his priorities and means everything to these patients.

His responsiveness extends to his willingness to help patients who have exhausted all other options. When the Global PAD Association reaches out with urgent cases that have come across our leg saver hotline, Dr. Adams, no matter where he is in the world, consistently responds with immediate, compassionate intervention.

The Journey to Becoming a Patient-Centered PAD Specialist

During our conversation, I asked Dr. Adams what shaped his extraordinary approach to patient care. He shared that his journey to medicine began unexpectedly. “I was going to become a mechanical engineer,” he explained. “And then I realized that I liked people interaction.”

That people-centered orientation was deeply influenced by his childhood experience caring for his grandfather, who had Alzheimer’s disease. Growing up on a farm in southern North Carolina, the young George would stay home with his grandfather while his parents worked.

“I still remember being young and having him by my side,” Dr. Adams recalled. “He was a strapping gentleman, very sharp… but he couldn’t remember.” This early experience taught him about the profound impact one person can have on another’s life – a lesson that continues to guide his practice today.

“It made me appreciate not only him, but the ability of another person to influence another, right? And to help another,” he reflected. “We helped each other and we worked together, sort of like patients, right? It isn’t just a physician that helps a patient. It’s a patient that helps a physician and physician that helps a patient and it’s teamwork.”

Personalized Approach to Limb Salvage: Every Patient’s Story Matters

This philosophy of partnership shines through in Dr. Adams’ approach to even the most challenging cases. When I asked about his secret to maintaining such deep compassion day after day, he emphasized seeing each patient as an individual with unique goals.

“Every person is individualized, right? It’s a personalized approach,” he explained. “And every person matters. It’s hard to see someone suffer, right? So if you can decrease or alleviate that suffering, it means so much.”

Dr. Adams shared a story about a patient who had been referred to him – an elderly woman whose only wish was to continue playing the piano. Another doctor had recommended amputation, but she was determined to keep her leg and maintain her ability to play. Through Dr. Adams’ intervention, she not only kept her leg but lived another year or two, able to continue doing what she loved most.

“She became independent, right? She was dependent,” he noted. “And she got to do the things that she likes to do in life.”

For Dr. Adams, the goal is always to help patients regain their independence. Whether it’s a farmer who wants to pick sweet potatoes with his sons or a woman who wishes to play piano until her final days, he sees each person not as a collection of symptoms but as someone with dreams and goals that deserve respect.

How Compassionate PAD Care Creates a Ripple Effect in Healthcare

What’s particularly encouraging is seeing how Dr. Adams’ approach to compassionate care is beginning to influence the broader medical community. During our conversation, he shared a remarkable story that demonstrates this ripple effect:

“I had a patient just the other day, actually it was this past week, that showed up in the ER with a note with my name on it from another facility. The other facility couldn’t do it and said, ‘You need to go to this emergency room and ask for this physician.’ And they had my name on this thing.”

This moment made him realize that his impact was spreading. “It makes me believe that the impact of what we’re doing is making an impact,” he said. “Maybe they couldn’t get them transferred, but they told the patient what to do, who to ask for and where to go.” The result was a positive outcome for a patient who otherwise would have lost their leg.

This willingness to refer patients to specialists with different capabilities is exactly the kind of system Dr. Adams advocates for. He believes strongly in the value of second opinions, especially when amputation is recommended. Rather than seeing it as a failure, he views appropriate referrals as good medicine.

“I just like to believe that it’s more ignorance rather than intent,” he explained when discussing why some doctors might not refer patients for advanced limb salvage. His approach emphasizes education over blame, understanding that many physicians are doing their best with the knowledge and tools they have. Creating a healthcare culture where asking for help is encouraged rather than penalized is part of his broader vision.

The Power of “Just Try”: A Critical Lesson for PAD Treatment

His technical philosophy parallels his compassionate one: “Just try.” Dr. Adams shared a powerful case that taught him and could teach other physicians a valuable lesson about limb salvage:

“There are multiple cases that are sent to me where a person has a wound, and a lot of times it’s a mixed picture – arterial and venous. A lot of times it’ll get billed as just venous. But the thing is, first of all, you’ve got to take the angiogram,” he explained.

“Stats in the United States: one out of two people don’t even get an angiogram when they have an ulcer, which is astounding,” Dr. Adams noted. “The second thing is, it may look really bad. The reflex is, if it’s really bad, then maybe I can’t do it. Maybe that’s not the right answer. You’ve got to try.”

He described a recent case involving a long chronic total occlusion of a posterior tibial artery. “Literally, I took a floppy tipped wire down there and it crossed. It’s nothing special I did. The only thing that was different between me and the other people was that I tried.”

This willingness to attempt what others might deem impossible has saved countless limbs throughout his career.

The Partnership of Care: When Patients and Physicians Try Together

But for Dr. Adams, the “just try” philosophy isn’t limited to physicians – it extends to patients as his partners in care. Throughout our conversation, it became clear that some of his most rewarding cases aren’t just about technical procedures but about supporting patients who take an active role in their own health journey. His compassion shines through in how he encourages and champions patients making difficult lifestyle modifications, viewing himself as their ally rather than simply their doctor.

“Each person independently, because at one point in time, each one of these people were independent. And now they’re dependent on the system because of their ailment,” he explained. “And if we can get them back to a point where they’re independent, man, you’ve helped out someone more than you could ever help them.”

This emphasis on restoring independence through a combination of medical intervention and patient empowerment forms the foundation of Dr. Adams’ approach to compassionate care.

Perseverance in PAD: When Patients Inspire Physicians

When I asked Dr. Adams about a patient who impressed him with their effort to improve their PAD prognosis, he shared a story that took an unexpected turn:

“This is a 60-year-old African-American female, one of the most lovely individuals you’ll ever meet,” he began. “She lost her left leg, an above-the-knee amputation. The reason she comes to me is because the wound where they did the amputation on that left leg will not heal.”

The patient was frustrated because she couldn’t exercise or use her prosthesis with the unhealed wound. When Dr. Adams performed an angiogram, he discovered her superficial femoral artery was completely blocked – likely the reason she had needed the amputation in the first place.

“I end up opening the superficial femoral artery, and she healed the nub such that now she’s fully functional. She wears her prosthesis and she’s able to exercise,” he explained.

What impressed him most was how this woman, despite already having lost a leg, took it upon herself to find Dr. Adams and seek treatment that would allow her to remain active. “This is a person motivated, someone that’s already dealt a bad hand and doesn’t look at it this way and just keeps pushing,” he reflected.

Walking as Medicine: Dr. Adams’ Prescription for PAD Patients

When it comes to motivating patients to walk – perhaps the most important therapy for PAD – Dr. Adams has a compelling approach:

“If you don’t use it, you will lose it,” he emphasizes. “The most important thing is to realize that the exercise that you do not only saves your limbs, it saves your life. You prevent heart attack, you prevent stroke, and you prevent losing your toes.”

But he doesn’t stop there. He offers patients a tangible reward for their efforts: “My motivation for you is you’re on a whole bunch of medicines. If you get moving, you drop your weight, you’ll get your blood pressure under better control – I will drop some of these medicines. You’ll get your diabetes under better control – I will drop some of these medicines. You’ll get your cholesterol under better control – again, I will drop some of these medicines.”

This practical approach gives patients both immediate and long-term goals to work toward, creating a powerful incentive to stay active.

Compassion with a Side of Humor: The Human Side of PAD Care

Even in the serious world of vascular medicine, maintaining a sense of humor helps Dr. Adams connect with patients. He shared a memorable story that illustrates the importance of clear patient education:

“I’m always asking patients to lose weight,” he explained. “I think it’s probably one of the hardest things to do. It’s probably harder than stopping smoking.”

One patient took this advice seriously and decided to try “cleanses” with a group of friends. Two weeks later, the patient showed up in Dr. Adams’ clinic feeling terrible. An electrocardiogram revealed he was in atrial fibrillation with a very fast heart rate.

After cardioverting the patient back to normal rhythm, Dr. Adams asked him to identify what might have triggered the episode. Two days later, the patient called with an answer: “I think it was that weight loss strategy that I, that me and my buddies were trying.”

It turned out the patient had purchased enemas but didn’t realize they weren’t meant to be taken orally. “This poor guy had been taking it orally. He’s lucky he didn’t die,” Dr. Adams recalled with a mix of concern and gentle humor.

Rather than judging the patient, Dr. Adams saw it as a teaching moment: “You just realize, Lord have mercy, they just didn’t know. So you take it in stride and you just educate them and just move on.”

This ability to handle difficult situations with grace and understanding epitomizes Dr. Adams’ approach to patient care.

The Future of Compassionate PAD Treatment

In a healthcare environment increasingly defined by time constraints and technology, Dr. Adams reminds us that the art of medicine – the human connection between doctor and patient – remains essential to true healing. His balanced approach of technical excellence and profound compassion provides a model for how we should approach PAD care.

When discussing the importance of exercise for PAD patients, Dr. Adams emphasized, “If you don’t use it, you will lose it” – a principle he applies to maintaining circulation in the legs. But this wisdom extends beyond physical therapy. Perhaps the same could be said for compassion in healthcare – a quality that must be exercised regularly to remain strong. Dr. Adams’ daily practice of putting patients first keeps the heart of medicine alive, not just for himself but for everyone his care touches.

Watch all of our Global PAD Impact Award Interviews at this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN_doEULxkhSusAG06aY1Kv993qLu71OZ

Global PAD Impact Awards - Important Disclaimer Award Clarification and Patient Guidance

The Global PAD Impact Awards are not an endorsement of any award recipient’s medical practice, research, or clinical services.

These awards are:

-Based on specific, carefully evaluated criteria

-Nominated by patients who have experienced care

-Selected by a diverse panel including patients, physicians, and clinical experts

Important Patient Guidance

Receiving this award does not guarantee that a particular healthcare provider is the right fit for every patient’s unique medical needs. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a complex condition that requires personalized medical attention.

Choosing the Right Healthcare Provider

If you need assistance in selecting a healthcare provider for PAD:

Contact the Global PAD Association’s Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS to speak with experienced professionals who can guide you through the process of finding the most appropriate doctor for your specific presentation of the disease Remember: Every patient’s medical journey is unique. Professional consultation is crucial in making informed healthcare decisions.

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