Fred Vance Lucas received his medical degree from the University of Rochester in 1950. Dr. Lucas was appointed Director of Medical Services at Vanderbilt University in 1977, also serving as Associate Dean of the School of Medicine and as a Professor of Pathology. For three months in 1977, he served as Acting Executive Director of the hospital.

Later, in 1979, Dr. Lucas took on the additional role of Director of Program Planning. He was later promoted in Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs. Lucas served a second stint as Acting Executive Director of the hospital from May 1981 to October 1982. He left Vanderbilt in 1989.