The Person Behind the Nametag - July 2008

Tracie Howard
Community Health Worker

Each month, “The Person Behind the Nametag’’ introduces you to a Westside Family Health Center Team Member. (Click here to read about others.)

July 2008 features Tracie Howard, who just celebrated her third year at WFHC. If you need your blood drawn at the clinic, chances are Tracie will be at the other end of the needle. Her toughest patients? “Men are the worst. They all want smaller needles, but most men would not qualify. Their arms are too big.’’

People who know you would be surprised to hear…that I’m really a shy person.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life? My mother.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger? I wish I would have known how hard life is as an adult. I enjoyed my childhood, but like all children I wanted to grow up. I wish I would have known.

The greatest invention of all time is: Computers.

Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning.

Halloween or Christmas? Christmas.

Spinach or broccoli? Broccoli steamed with a little bit of cheese—sharp cheddar, melted.

Smooth peanut butter or chunky peanut butter? Oh, smooth.

You say that with such certainty. I don’t like chunky food. Peanut butter with nuts in it, it’s gross!

What’s the last movie you saw? 88 Minutes.

Thumbs up or thumbs down? Thumbs up.

What keeps you awake at night? Snoring.

What keeps you awake during the day? My two-year-old niece.

What do you love about your job? Learning a lot of new stuff like learning the Front Desk, medications, the different programs we offer. We didn’t do that at my old job.

What concerns you most about the state of health care today? A lot of people who have health problems don’t get the treatment and medications they need.

What do you consider your most admirable quality? My friends will say, “She’s a caring person.’’

What do you hope to do that you haven’t done yet? I hope to go into forensics.

What’s the best thing about L.A.? The weather.

Worst? The smog and pollution.

Always in your fridge: Cheese.

Favorite food: Red snapper…fried. Fried?

Dr. Kulkarni [WFHC’s Director of Medical Services] will not be pleased. I’m sorry, I’m just being honest.

Who do you sing to when you’re in your car? My daughter, Kianna.

How old is she? 13.

When she visits the clinic I sing to her too and she hates it. Me, too.

What was your last impulse buy? An iPod.

Describe your perfect day. At home in my bed watching TV and eating Cheez-Its.

Uh, Dr. K…(Laughter)

What’s the best gift you ever received? My car.

How often is your first name misspelled? Every day.

Drawing blood must make you one of the most unpopular people at the clinic with patients. What do you do to make it a pleasant experience? I try to make everyone feel comfortable. I let them know that I know what I’m doing. I try to make the situation lighter by making them laugh. I ease their minds with laughter and I let them know if I don’t get it on the first time or two, I won’t keep poking around. That relaxes them.

You’ve said that men are your most reluctant patients. They are worse than children