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March is Women’s History Month — a time to honor the vital contributions of women throughout American history. This year’s theme, created by the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), is: “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” which celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. This month, we recognize the women of UVA Health who embody these roles — shaping our workplace, patient care, and community.

Franchesca Kelly, PBT, ASCP, a certified pediatric phlebotomist at UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center, and an author, has become a sought-after pediatric provider and educator. Kelly, a mother of four, began her career in nursing once her third child left for college. While she had always envisioned herself pursuing a career as a hospice nurse, a chance opening in the phlebotomy program at Northern Virginia Community College sent her down a different path. 

Discovering a Gift for Pediatric Care

Knowing how critical phlebotomy skills are to any nursing position, Kelly enrolled in the program and began her training. While she was initially very nervous about hurting patients during blood draws, she soon discovered she brought something unique to what can often be a stressful situation. 

“I learned that I have a gift to make people feel comfortable and calm,” she says. “My oldest daughter has anxiety, and I know that people feed on energy. So, I would work with that, and then I developed other techniques of my own to make the experience of getting a blood draw a lot more pleasant. Through that work, I discovered that I love working with children and wanted to make it an amazing experience for them.”

After taking a short detour into histology, Kelly realized how much she enjoyed and missed working with kids. This inspired her to write “Sam and Sarah Go To the Lab,” a book to help children understand what to expect and be more at ease when getting a blood draw. 

Writing the book helped bring Kelly back to where her heart was all along — working with kids. She returned to pediatric phlebotomy and joined the UVA Health team in Haymarket in August 2024. Now, she works in the main lab with instrumentation and processing, and in the outpatient lab, where she works one-on-one with patients. 

“I love people and love to make a difference in their lives,” Kelly says. “For just the minute that they are in my chair, I hope they know they’re important, no matter who they are — from newborns to 104 years old — they matter, and they’re important to me.”  

Inspiration Close to Home

When thinking about the women who have inspired her professionally, Kelly’s biggest inspiration is her daughter. She remembers watching years ago as the medical staff held her daughter down for a blood draw. 

“That was so hard to watch as a mom,” she says. “I thought — there has to be a better way, and I didn’t want that experience for the little ones who come to me.” 

So Kelly committed herself to finding a better way and sharing that with others. Building on her own techniques with pediatric patients, she learned as much as she could about methods to help kids manage their pain perception and ease their fears and anxieties. Soon, she began teaching her colleagues these child-friendly strategies. 

“None of the phlebotomy programs I know of teach the specifics of how to draw children,” she recalls. “Children are not just small adults. They should be met at their level. I try really hard to teach the difference with my colleagues, and they are very open to learning.”

Reducing Distress and Emotional Trauma

Kelly has developed a reputation for her exceptional skills with pediatric patients, and now, pediatric doctors from throughout the community send their patients to UVA Health specifically to see her. Late last year, she had an opportunity to share her expertise industry-wide with an article published in Critical Values entitled, “Enhancing Pediatric Care with Pediatric Phlebotomy Training”:

“Most phlebotomists have little to no specific guidelines in their training about performing pediatric phlebotomy. Instead, they rely on their adult-centered education to draw blood from babies and children. However, if a child experiences pain or discomfort during medical procedures, they may develop negative attitudes towards healthcare settings and providers … By implementing techniques that manage and minimize pain, we can help reduce the distress and emotional trauma associated with medical procedures. This not only promotes a more positive healthcare experience for children and their caregivers, it also has long-lasting effects throughout their lifetime.”

Compassionate Experiences

Kelly goes on to describe several techniques to comfort and calm pediatric patients during phlebotomy. For the youngest patients, she suggests engaging their senses with colorful pictures, sing-along songs, and even a bubble machine. For teens and beyond, she often connects with them about their life goals, school, friends, and hobbies. All strategies center around creating a positive experience that patients will associate with healthcare settings — ideally, for a lifetime.  

Kelly wants to continue helping healthcare professionals everywhere create more inclusive and compassionate experiences, not just for the smallest patients but for every patient. She hopes to continue sharing her strategies through articles, workshops, and other teaching channels.  

She says, “I want us all to look at each person individually and make sure they know they are cared for, and they matter in whatever moment they find themselves in at any UVA Health facility.”