The relationship between a father and a daughter is often special. For Carolina Trang Vo, that bond shaped not only her life, but her calling.
In 2015, Vo’s father suffered a stroke that left him in a coma for a month. When he awoke, he had no sensation on the left side of his body and was unable to talk, walk or eat.
Over the next six years, his health was marked by numerous complications, but Vo was by his side every step of the way. The week before he passed, he summoned all his strength to motion to her, “I love you.”
At the time, Vo was just beginning medical school at the UNC School of Medicine, after spending several years working as a medical assistant at UNC Health. That final interaction with her father solidified her path forward.
“No matter how long my days were, from going to school in the morning to spending the night in the hospital with my dad, I never felt tired,” Vo said. “When you’re passionate about something and have meaning, you don’t feel tired; you feel energized. He gave me a purpose in life.”
Seeing health care through a family lens
Vo’s parents faced significant challenges long before her father’s stroke. Both immigrated from Vietnam during the Vietnam War before eventually settling in the United States.
When Vo was 10 years old, her father retired due to disability and her mother had serious health problems of her own. Vo served as their interpreter and healthcare advocate from a young age and drove them to countless appointments once she had her license.
After her father’s stroke, he was transported to UNC Hospitals. At the time, Vo was enrolled in medical assistant school, having stepped away from her goal of attending medical school. She was in awe of the care her father received.
“I spent every night at his bedside, getting to know the incredible nurses, residents and attendings,” Vo said. “I fell in love with medicine because of how consistently they communicated with me and involved me in every decision.”
Following his discharge, her father did not receive the same quality of care at nearby nursing facilities. As costs mounted, Vo and her mother made the decision to bring him home to Fayetteville, North Carolina. From 2016 until his death in 2021, they served as his full-time caregivers.
Vo was working as a medical assistant during the day and her father’s caregiver at night, changing diapers, cleaning G-tube sites, crushing medications, caring for PICC lines and doing whatever else was needed.
“Carolina drew on her own experiences advocating for her family members’ healthcare journey and tailored her role to capture the patient-physician encounter by being a compassionate and collaborative partner,” said Dr. Rumey Ishizawar, one of Vo’s mentors. Vo worked with her as a rheumatology medical scribe.
During this time, Vo earned a master’s degree in physiology and secured a second job in pharmaceuticals before ultimately being accepted to the UNC School of Medicine.
“I learned a lot about the challenges of navigating the healthcare system while being my dad’s caregiver, and I wanted to use that knowledge to advocate for others,” Vo said. “There was no better way to do that than becoming a doctor.”
Persevering through loss
Vo began medical school in August 2021. Within her first few months as an MS1, she lost her cousin, future father-in-law, pet rabbit and father.
“It felt like everything was unraveling,” Vo said. “Grieving both the dad I grew up with and the dad I came to know after his stroke, trying to support my mom, planning a wedding with my husband knowing that both of our dads were gone — it felt impossible.”
Life quickly became overwhelming. Vo was barely sleeping, navigating profound loss while still trying to be a medical student. She later failed Step 1.
“I knew my dad would not want me to give up on myself,” Vo said. “I fought so hard to get into medical school as an older medical student without perfect grades. I wasn’t giving up now.”
Determined to move forward, Vo credits Ben Shirley, EdD, and Amit Gupta, MD, for providing the support she needed.
Shirley helped Vo reframe her approach to studying, encouraging her to take time for self-care and find ways to make studying more fun. Most importantly, he helped her learn to give herself grace while continuing to grow through adversity.
“Carolina is a truly remarkable person, and I have no doubt she will become an excellent physician,” Shirley said. “One of the qualities that I admire most about Carolina is her ability to support others. She has become a source of encouragement for fellow medical students facing academic challenges by offering her perspective and reassurance. I am inspired by her openness and generosity in uplifting others.”
On her next attempt, Vo passed Step 1 and transitioned to clinical rotations where she began to flourish. Feedback from residents and attendings consistently highlighted her commitment to patients — learning their stories, keeping families informed and securing gas cards for those traveling long hours.
“I took what I knew from my own life,” Vo said. “I knew what my dad would have wanted as a patient, and I gave that to my patients.”
During this time, Vo was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and UNC’s Alpha Omega Alpha Chapter. She also passed Step 2 with a competitive score. Even so, she was unsure of which specialty to pursue.
Finding her match with anesthesiology
Vo always loved working with children and initially thought pediatrics would be the right fit. However, during her ObGyn rotation, she noticed that in the delivery room, her instinct was to comfort the mother rather than focus on the baby.
In a moment of uncertainty in the break room, an anesthesiologist talked through her experience and suggested anesthesiology. Vo was skeptical at first, but the more she reflected on it, the more it resonated. Now, she knows it’s the right path.
“Every chapter of my life has brought me here,” Vo said. “My years as a medical assistant taught me the skills. Through working with military children in Project YES, I learned how to ease fear and foster trust with my patients. Caring for my dad taught me the importance of showing up, even when no one is watching. That’s what anesthesiology felt like to me — a space that demanded focus, skill and heart.”
Vo applied to anesthesiology residency programs and interviewed in the fall, searching for the right fit. When Match Day arrived on March 20, she opened her envelope to learn she matched at the University of Virginia Medical Center, her top choice.
In that moment, Vo collapsed to the floor in tears. She thought of the unwavering support she received from her mother, her husband and other family members. Above all, she thought of her father and how proud he would be.
Through every setback and triumph, Vo discovered her purpose. Now, she sees it taking shape.
“My path wasn’t linear, but it was meaningful,” Vo said. “It was never just about becoming a doctor, but becoming the kind of doctor my dad needed.”
Media contact: Cory Van Dyke, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication, Offices of Medical Student Education