January 29, 2025
Written by Sabrina Shaw
A passion for pharmacy has forged an unforeseeable bond between Julia and Augusto Fabricio, bringing the siblings closer than ever.

Born and raised in Brazil, four years apart, the siblings began a new journey in Pennsylvania in 2007 and later moved to Tennessee in 2013. After earning their undergraduate degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the siblings are now advancing their education in pharmacy.
This is not only inspiring because of their sibling bond but also their shared experience of overcoming the challenges of being non-English speakers in America. Recognizing the significant disconnect faced by non-English-speaking patients in health care, they are determined to bridge this gap by drawing on their firsthand experiences.
“Seeing that with our mom is challenging. It’s an added layer of empathy and understanding for what they are going through,” said Julia. “We’ve been lucky to use the Portuguese we speak at home to speak with patients.”
Julia Fabricio Donahue, PharmD ’24, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Neuroscience after initially studying Political Science due to her passion for communication. She is now a PGY1 Acute Care Resident at UNC Medical Center. Augusto, a first-year PharmD student at the School, graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Four years from now, Augusto strives to pursue residency like his sister and focus on ambulatory care.
Julia reflects that Augusto’s enrollment into the pharmacy school has meant a lot to her. “It’s nice to experience this new chapter together,” said Julia. “I get to watch him do what I just did through the program.”
Alongside Julia’s post-baccalaureate studies at the pharmacy school, she was a peer mentor. During Augusto’s first year, she treated her role as the older sister with care and offered advice for Augusto during his journey, encouraging him to get involved in activities outside of school.
“Try everything because you’ll never know when you’ll get the opportunity again,” said Julia.
Julia’s leadership played a significant role in Augusto’s decision to pursue pharmacy; his pivot from biomedical engineering was also influenced by his outpatient hospital experience. There, he discovered a passion for patient care and the intricate processes of pharmacy.
“Seeing all these new interactions, and the way drugs are prescribed, I realized that patient care could be something I’m actually very interested in,” said Augusto.
Augusto also shared that witnessing the direct relationships between patients and pharmacists during his time at UT Medical Center has been particularly fulfilling, as it highlights pharmacists’ impactful patient care. Meanwhile, Julia will be specializing next year as she returns to UNC Medical Center as a PGY2 in Critical Care.
After eight years of living apart, the siblings are eager to see how their love for pharmacy intertwines and how their paths evolve now that they are together again.
“I’m very excited to follow in my big sister’s footsteps,” said Augusto.
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