Lu was born in China. After graduating from UCONN with a BS in Biology, he joined the United States Air Force. It was only months after the tragic September 11th attack on New York City that he was deployed to the Middle East in support of the war against terrorism. He fulfilled his duty and was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Through his military career he received an Achievement Medal and was promoted to Captain. After successfully completing his military service, he entered medical school. It was during his internal medicine clerkship that he realized this was the path he wanted to pursue. He found many similarities between his experience in the hospital and his experience on the battlefield. When Lu is not volunteering his time, he enjoys martial arts, basketball and salsa dancing.