Welcome to the VHA Innovation Ecosystem podcast! Today’s episode focuses on women Veterans, who comprise nearly 15% of all active duty military and 18% of all National Guard and Reserves. There are about 2.2 million women Veterans who make up nearly 7% of all VA health care users. Women are the fastest growing group within the Veteran population, and VA expects the number of women Veterans using VA care to increase dramatically as more women serve in the armed services. During this episode, we offer three segments that introduce programs that help women Veterans take charge of their reproductive rights, creatively tell their service stories, and connect as a community.
Our first segment is with Dr. Lori Gawron at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. Dr. Gawron’s practice trains primary care providers in the One Key Question algorithm, which starts with a simple question: “Would you like to become pregnant in the next year?” Patient responses facilitate further conversation, and this assessment provides critical information for care, ranging from neonatal vitamins to hormonal contraceptives.
Next, we speak with Carey Russ of the White River Junction VA Medical Center. In 2015, the White River Junction VAMC and the Center for Cartoon Studies came together to create the comic anthology “When I Returned,” which captures the experiences of Veterans coming home from war. However, no women Veterans were interviewed or featured in the anthology. In response to this lack of representation, Carey made it a priority and mission to collaborate on a second comic anthology with the purpose of capturing the experiences of women Veterans.
Our final segment is with Deborah Harmon-Pugh and Barbara Pittman, the National Campaign Chair and the DC Metro/Capitol Region State President, respectively, of Women Veterans ROCK! A coalition of organizations supporting women Veterans and military families, Women Veterans ROCK! provides resources for housing, employment, education, financial stability, and health and wellness to enable women Veterans to excel in their post-military lives. In this segment, Deborah and Barbara explain the goals of Women Veterans ROCK! and how they fit into the organization and its community.
Episode Resources:
US Department of Veteran Affairs
VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System
The Center for Cartoon Studies
White River Junction VA Medical Center
Women Veterans Rock
Women Veterans Civic Leadership Institute
Women Veterans Rock 2020 Delegation to Capitol Hill
Key Episode Quotes:
"When you're at the VA and regularly care for women, you might need extra training on the importance of these topics to feel comfortable with the response that the woman may give." -- Dr. Lori Gawron, VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System
"People have been, I think, really just awed, and surprised, and impressed about the women's willingness and ability to share, but also the art. It is really beautiful." -- Carey Russ, White River Junction VA Medical Center
"At Women Veterans Rock, we are dedicated to engaging and empowering women Veterans primarily through post military civic engagement." -- Deborah Harmon-Pugh, National Campaign Chair of Women Veterans Rock
