Photo: Lopez advocates for Clinic patients during a congressional office visit in Washington, D.C.

For over 25 years, Pattie Lopez has been an important part of how Venice Family Clinic connects patients with life-changing health care. Pattie’s journey at the Clinic began in1998 in our call center, where she quickly saw how impactful her work was to people living in underserved communities.

“It felt so good to know I was a part of something bigger,” remembers Pattie. “Every interaction I had was an opportunity to help someone feel better.”

Pattie’s passion for helping others is deeply personal. As a child, she navigated the complex health care system for her mother, who didn’t speak English. “I was just fourteen, trying to understand and translate adult conversations about my mom’s health.” That experience shaped the empathy she brings to her role today and drives her to make sure every patient feels supported, no matter how challenging their situation may seem.

Pattie was promoted to site manager at Robert Levine Family Health Center in recognition of her outstanding commitment to patient care. And today, as our community health insurance manager, Pattie uses those hard one skills to lead a dedicated team that provides personalized, compassionate assistance to our patients and members of the community. “Health insurance is complicated, especially for people facing homelessness or language barriers,” Pattie explains. “But helping someone get coverage can make an incredible difference in their life—it’s why we do this work.”

For Pattie, every day at Venice Family Clinic is a chance to make an impact. “Knowing I’ve made someone’s life better—that’s what keeps me motivated,” she says. “And I’m so grateful to be a part of a team that’s driven to help people.”