Scholar Spotlight - Tracy Tang

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Tracy Tang, a Laidlaw Scholar at Oxford Saïd Business School, is driving change through medicine and global impact 

My parents and I are Vietnamese refugees. My father was a major in the South Vietnamese government and after the fall of Saigon, he was imprisoned in a concentration camp for 15 years. After he was released, my family came to the United States as political refugees when I was two years old. I grew up in a low socioeconomic household, and the drive to escape poverty fueled my pursuit of higher education. ​

I attended University of California Los Angeles for my undergraduate studies in biology and then pursued a masters in occupational therapy from University of Southern California. As an occupational therapist, I worked in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I took time to reflect on my career aspirations and considered applying to medical school. Here’s a funny story: I made the final decision by flipping a coin– heads, apply. Tails, don’t. You can guess what it landed on. ​​

Currently, I am a final year medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine taking a gap year to pursue my MBA from Saïd Business School. I will return after the MBA to finish my medical degree and plan to apply for residency in occupational and environmental medicine. My journey to University of Oxford stems from my interest in healthcare, business, and global impact. ​

When I learned about the Laidlaw Scholarship at Oxford, I resonated with its mission to empower women leaders and felt it was a great fit for me. I applied thinking it was a long shot, but here I am! If you are reading this and thinking about applying, I encourage you to take that leap. ​

What is the biggest life challenge you have overcome and what did you learn from it?

I grew up without many resources, and when I started undergrad, I naively thought that everyone came from a similar background as me— you only know what you have access to. When I saw the educational and economic disparity between my classmates and me, I came to this sinking realization that I probably didn’t belong there. I failed my physiological sciences class and really struggled to get my footing in my undergrad. I thought I had ruined my future and that my life was over (dramatic, I know). But, I picked myself up, dusted off the dirt, asked for help, and forged on. I eventually graduated with departmental honors in biology, and things seem to have worked out okay. This experience taught me that it’s not failure or your mistakes that define you. It’s how you handle and pick yourself up after. ​

What is the most useful/impactful piece of advice you have been given in your life?

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”​

― Theodore Roosevelt ​

I live my life by the quote above, which helps me stay brave when I am doing something that scares me or has a high chance of failure– moving across the country for my first job, quitting said job to apply to medical school, applying for MBA programs in a different continent, interviewing for the Laidlaw Scholarship. All I ask of myself is that I show up in the arena and try my best, regardless of the outcome. This advice has pushed me beyond limits and gotten me to where I am today. ​

Conversely, what is the WORST piece of advice you have been given?

“You should focus on starting a family instead of getting more degrees.” ​

This is what someone said to me when I got my acceptance into medical school. In response, I decided to get an MBA too. ​

What are your top 3 leadership tips?

To become a better leader, you need to cultivate courage, connection, and communication. ​

• Courage-- to make the difficult decisions and ask for help when you need it. ​
• Connection-- to build trust and empower your team.​
• Communication– to share your vision and inspire others. ​

What does it mean for you to be a Laidlaw Scholar?

Being a Laidlaw Scholar is a dream come true. Given my background, I could not have attended University of Oxford without the support of this scholarship. I see the Laidlaw Scholarship as not only an investment in my future but also a deeply humbling recognition of my potential to make a meaningful impact on the world. Additionally, being connected to the Laidlaw Network gives me access to a community of incredible women whom I can learn from as scholars and friends. ​

Which leaders inspire you the most and why?

I draw the most inspiration from leaders I’ve personally encountered in my life– individuals who lead with authenticity, humility, and integrity. ​

First off, my mother- she is the glue of our family and the most selfless person I know. She restarted her life in a new country from scratch and then beat cancer twice. She encompasses intelligence, humility, grace, and wisdom. If I could be half the person that she is, I would consider myself successful. ​

Dr. Cecil Kumfa and Dr. Miles Farr have shaped how I think about patient care and leadership. I have observed both physicians consistently advocating for their patients, leading with humility, and always showing kindness. They inspire those around them to do better.​

Describe a scene from the future you are striving to create.

I envision myself sitting at a table with global leaders, collaborating on innovative health policies and standards that prioritize prevention and well-being for our workforce. The focus has shifted from reactive interventions to proactive, preventative care. Employees feel comfortable in prioritizing their health, and all individuals, regardless of their background, have equal access to quality healthcare.

Quick-fire Questions

📺 Currently Binging: 

The Good Place 

📚 My top book recommendation: 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig ​

🎶 My anthem: 

First Light by Lindsey Stirling​

🎧 Current Podcast Obsession:

Wondery​

🌈 Something that made me feel joy recently:

I’m currently doing my MBA internship in Australia, and it’s been such a joy to reconnect with family who live here. I also spotted a kangaroo hopping across train tracks while I was waiting for a train — such a cool and unexpected moment!​

Please connect with me on LinkedIn!