How Caroline Carswell Brings a Teacher’s Heart to UNC Radiology

If you had told Caroline Carswell a few years ago that she would be working in medical education — specifically in the highly specialized world of Interventional Radiology — she might have raised an eyebrow. After all, she spent nine years in an elementary classroom, teaching second graders who often didn’t speak a word of English when they first arrived.

“I was not a typical second-grade teacher,” Caroline recalls. “Any student who came directly from another country would be placed in my classroom. In a class of 20 English language learners, I often had six or seven different languages represented at once. They’d arrive not speaking English, and my job was to find creative ways to communicate and start their educational journey here.”

It was challenging, creative, and deeply rewarding work — but after nearly a decade, she felt ready for something new. “Teachers usually ‘change things up’ by switching schools or grade levels. But my work with English language learners was so unique and fulfilling that nothing in traditional teaching felt like it could measure up,” she explains.

Caroline began thinking beyond the classroom. “I wanted to find an educational role where I wasn’t directly teaching but could still support people who were learning. Obviously, I’m not a doctor, but I could still help in meaningful ways.” Her search led her to UNC — a place she describes as “very prestigious” — and soon she stepped into the role of Program Coordinator for the Interventional Radiology Residency and Fellowship programs.

A Role That’s Anything But Routine

Caroline’s work now is a blend of organization, logistics, problem-solving, and people skills. She focuses on residents rather than faculty — scheduling conferences, supporting onboarding, coordinating orientation, managing interviews, assisting with graduation, and keeping the year’s big events running smoothly.

Her day-to-day is never exactly the same. “We work in cycles,” she explains. “At different times of the year, the big priorities shift — one month it’s interviews, another month it’s graduation prep. In between, I’m handling schedules, evaluations, verifications, and all the little details that make the residency run.”

One of Caroline’s favorite aspects of the job is spotting ways to make things better. “When I started, I learned the residents’ projector wasn’t producing the sharp resolution they needed for Radiology images. I went down a rabbit hole researching projectors — it took a year of coordinating, but it was installed just in time for orientation! That’s the part I love — seeing a solution come together and making a difference.”

“Caroline’s attention to detail and organization is second to none, which makes her perfect for a role where compliance and regulations are so key,” says Blair Allen, Business Operations Manager.  “My favorite thing about Caroline is that she is always willing to stop and help anyone with any task. No task is too big or too small for her to lend a hand. Caroline embodies the positive culture we want to achieve as a full staff team in our department and it’s hard for me to believe she’s only been in Radiology for one year.”

From Second Graders to Second-Year Residents

Caroline is quick to point out that her teaching experience still serves her every day. “In teaching, I spent a lot of time figuring out where understanding broke down for a student and addressing it. Now, if a resident asks about a policy, I think about whether the confusion is from the wording, from how it was presented, or from something we missed in orientation. It’s the same skill — just a different audience.”

Her communication style reflects that teacher’s mindset, too. “If I notice the same questions keep coming up, I know it’s time to rework whatever’s causing the confusion. That’s just how my brain works — always trying to make things clearer and more efficient.”

“Caroline has been a wonderful addition to the education team,” says Allison Speagle, Education Manager. She is always willing to learn new things and help others. She does a great job keeping up with the hectic and ever-changing schedules and duties related to her job. We are lucky to have her on our team!”

Outside the Office: Strategy and Scenery

Though she describes herself as introverted, Caroline enjoys connecting with colleagues — sometimes through unexpected channels. She helps with Snack Day as a way to see people beyond her office, and she’s always ready to lend a hand, whether it’s setting up for Grand Rounds or jumping in on a project.

Outside of work, she and her husband play Magic: The Gathering — often at a local gameboard brewery’s Thursday night casual play event. “I enjoy playing because it sharpens my strategic thinking. You have to plan several moves ahead but also think on your feet to adapt and solve problems as they come,” she explains. They also love hiking at spots like Umstead and the Eno River, where she’s known to stop mid-trail to marvel at something in nature.

A Reflective Problem-Solver

If Caroline had to sum herself up in one word, it would be reflective. “I’m always analyzing — thinking about what happened, how people felt, and how we can do it better next time.” Her friends would describe her as creative, organized, and motivated — a fitting trio for someone who’s made a career out of building bridges between people, processes, and possibilities.

Her autobiography title? The Wandering Learner: A Journey Through Curiosity
Her dream casting for a movie version of her life? Annie Murphy.
And her go-to playlist? Kelly Clarkson, “the old school version of Taylor Swift.”

Whether she’s fine-tuning a policy, tracking down the perfect projector, or making sure residents feel supported from orientation to graduation, Caroline’s heart is in the same place it’s always been — helping people succeed. “I just really like helping people,” she says simply. “That’s the constant.”