Carolina Augusta Braga M.D.

On Monday, January 11, Carolina Augusta Braga died peacefully at her home in San Francisco. She was 94.

The eldest child of Jack and Augusta Braga, Carol was born on August 3, 1926. Carol grew up with her six siblings in their family home in in Macau. From an early age Carol had her heart set on a career in medicine. When Hong Kong University reopened after the devastation of WWII, Carol was granted a scholarship and began her medical training. She graduated in 1952 then serving her residency at the University of Hong Kong. More than a half century later, staff members and patients recall her with affection and deep respect. In a medical career that lasted more than sixty years, Carol has been a blessing to thousands. A daily Mass attendee, Carol always maintained that her Catholic faith was the mainspring of her medical career.

Carol spent two years in London studying for membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She was elected a Fellow of the College in 1967. She held the position of Senior Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong from 1964-1969. Emigrating to the USA in 1969, she was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Braga rose steadily in the ranks and became Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences in 1987.

Following her retirement in 1991, Dr. Braga served as Medical Director for Hospice by the Bay. In more than twenty years at UCSF, Dr. Braga became a significant leader in her field of women’s health. She was a valued collaborator as teacher, clinician and in her research and many publications. Most importantly, she became known as a very caring and expert physician.

Public recognition of her outstanding career came in the form of the Distinguished Achievement Award given to Carol by the National Women’s Political

Caucus in 1990. In July of 2020, The Carolina Braga, MD School of Medicine Scholarship Fund was established at UCSF.

A devout Catholic, Carol was an active member of St. Cecilia Parish in San Francisco where she led the Adult Faith Formation Group and was a member of the Arimatheans. But her great love was singing in the St. Cecilia Parish Choir where she was a member for nearly 40 years!

During the past 6 years, Carol has been cared for by her loving niece Sian with whom she enjoyed cooking Portuguese food, cruises, casino trips and the weekly gathering of her friends from St. Cecilia’s Church.

Carol is survived her brothers, Jose Braga and Antonio Braga; her sisters, Maria Braga and Angela Braga as well as numerous nieces and nephews including Sian Hollands, her loving niece and caregiver.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Maria and Augusta Braga, her sister, Theresa Millar and her brother, Pedro Braga.

A private funeral Mass will be held at St. Cecilia Church. In the coming months a Celebration of Life will be held in Carol’s honor.