Adam Kay is a British author and comedian known for his memoir about being a doctor and his subsequent writing career.
Adam Kay is a British writer, comedian, and former doctor, born in Brighton in 1980. He grew up in a Jewish household and pursued medicine, graduating from Imperial College London in 2004. While in medical school, he began performing comedy and writing for radio. Kay initially trained in obstetrics and gynaecology before leaving medicine in 2010 due to a traumatic experience with a stillborn birth following a complicated caesarean section, which led to him developing PTSD.
His writing career took off with his 2017 memoir, 'This Is Going to Hurt,' which detailed his experiences as a doctor and became a bestseller. The book received critical acclaim and numerous awards, later being adapted into a television series for which Kay won a BAFTA. He has since written several other books, including children's literature and a collection of NHS stories. Kay has also had a successful career in performing, with sold-out shows and tours, and has written for various television programs.
Early Life and Medical Training
Born Adam Richard Kay in Brighton on June 12, 1980, he grew up in a Jewish family with Polish heritage. His father was a doctor, which Kay has stated influenced his own decision to pursue medicine. He attended Dulwich College and later Imperial College London, where he studied medicine and earned his MBBS degree in 2004. During his time at medical school, beginning in 1998, Kay started performing in shows and founded the musical comedy group Amateur Transplants. He also contributed writing to BBC Radio 4 during this period.
Transition from Medicine to Writing
Kay's initial medical career involved training in obstetrics and gynaecology. He worked as a doctor from 2004 to 2010. His decision to leave the medical profession was profoundly impacted by a difficult patient case: a caesarean section complicated by an undiagnosed placenta praevia resulted in a stillborn baby and the mother requiring intensive care. This event left Kay with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. His experiences in medicine later formed the basis for his highly successful writing career.
Literary and Television Success
Kay's memoir, 'This Is Going to Hurt' (2017), drawn from his personal diaries from his medical career, became a significant bestseller and was lauded by critics. It achieved numerous accolades, including being named Book of the Year at the National Book Awards and topping bestseller lists internationally, translated into 28 languages. The book was adapted into a BBC comedy-drama, also titled 'This Is Going to Hurt,' for which Kay won a BAFTA for his writing. He has since authored other books, including 'Twas the Nightshift before Christmas' (2019) and children's books, and edited 'Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You' (2020).
Performing and Comedy
Alongside his writing, Kay has maintained a career in performing and comedy. He has achieved sell-out success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for six consecutive years and has undertaken nationwide UK tours. His performances often draw from his medical experiences. Kay has also performed on radio shows like BBC Radio 4's 'The Now Show' and appeared on various television programs. He was recognized for his performing work, winning Best Musical Variety Act at the 2014 London Cabaret Awards.
