Meet the Nutrition Clinical Manager - Traci Goodwin

1. What would you like a Veteran or Veteran caregiver to know about your program? I encourage every veteran regardless of their age or health status  to meet with a dietitian  and learn how to improve their health with changes to their diet.  The nutrition staff is available to educate you and partner with you to help you make needed changes. 
2. How can they learn more about your program or get in contact with you? Each Primary Care Clinic and Community Based Outpatient Clinic has a dietitian assigned. You can ask in your clinic to  see the dietitian or request a referral from your provider, however no referral is required.  We can see you on the day of your other VA visits or if your live out of town  we can connect with you via Video Connect.
3. Can you tell me a little about yourself? I am originally from San Antonio, Texas but I have lived in MS for 31 years. I am married and have two grown children, and a sweet dog.  I went to college at Harding University in Searcy,  AR and completed my dietetic internship in San, Antonio.   I enjoy traveling with  some of my college friends a few weekends every year. My husband and I are involved at church and enjoy being involved in helping the community.
4. How long have you worked for VA, and what roles have you had at the VA? I came to work at the VA after working for many years in pediatrics, with much of my time  spent working with children with special needs.  It was a very rewarding job. It was perfect for me  while my children were small but as they got older I wanted something different so I applied for an opening at the VA.  I had grown up in a military town and was aware of the VA mission but really had little experience with veterans.  I can say, without a doubt, that as I have worked here I have come to better understand and appreciate the sacrifice these men and women have made for our country.
5. How does serving Veterans each day impact you personally? It gives me great personal satisfaction to be able to help veterans to recover or improve their health with the information and services I can provide. I enjoy visiting with the veterans and I feel that getting to know a veteran is extremely helpful to them in the healing process.  Making a personal connection is very important to me.
6. What is an interesting fact that many do not know about you? An interesting fact about me is that while I grew up in a large city, my parents were from the country and I spent a great deal of time in  central Texas swimming in creeks, fishing, making homemade ice cream on the porch and playing in the big oak trees in my grandparents front yard.   
7. What do you do for fun? I enjoy visiting my father who is 88 years old and still living in his home in San Antonio. I go several times a year to visit him. For fun I like baking, decorating and visiting with friends.
8. Are you a Veteran? If so, what branch of service.  Although I am not a veteran, my dad was in the Army and then spent 35 years working for the Air Force on Kelly and Brooks Air Force Bases in San Antonio.

RDNs promote healthy lifestyle choices and create personal nutrition plans for individuals of all ages using a whole health approach. RDNs empower and equip people to take charge of their health and well-being to live their life to the fullest.  They are able to separate facts from fads and give you evidenced-based nutrition information that you can use. To learn more, visit: Get Help from a Dietitian - Nutrition and Food Services (va.gov)