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Senior leaders from VA and external agencies gathered to discuss key issues facing Women Veterans at the 2023 Women’s Health Research Conference in Crystal City, Virginia. (From left to right: Dr. Alison Hamilton, Zaneta Adams, JD, Maureen Elias, Lourdes Tiglao, Joy Ilem, and Kayla Williams.)
September 19, 2023
"We rely on the expertise of our research teams. Through their efforts, we are constantly learning how to better care for Women Veterans."
The VA Women’s Health Research Network hosted the 2023 Women’s Health Research Conference held on September 6-7 in Crystal City, Virginia. The event was attended by more than 60 VA researchers from across the country and representatives from other federal agencies like the National Institute of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health.
Nationally recognized women’s health researchers presented more than 60 scientific podium and poster presentations on a slate of topics, including suicide prevention, firearm safety, rural health, sexual and gender health equity, reproductive health, military sexual trauma, and mental health. The conference was highlighted by a keynote address from VA Under Secretary of Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal.
VA Under Secretary of Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal.
“We rely on the expertise of our research teams, who continue to propel our mission forward. Through their efforts, we are constantly learning how to better care for Women Veterans, the fastest growing demographic of Veterans in the United States,” Elnahal said.
“Data is critical to every decision we make as a learning health system. That's why our data teams are continuously working to improve the accuracy and fidelity of data that is stratified for Women Veterans.”
Dr. Elnahal also acknowledged the vital role that partners like Veteran Service Organizations and the White House Gender Policy Council fill in supporting the goal of equitable health care for all Veterans, recognizing key Women’s Health leaders in attendance.
In addition, several VA leaders made remarks, including Dr. Elizabeth Yano, director, VA Women’s Health Research Network, Dr. Grant Huang, VA deputy chief research and development officer for enterprise optimization, Dr. David Atkins, director, VA Health Services Research and Development, and Dr. Sally Haskell, acting chief officer for the VA Office of Women’s Health.
From left to right: Dr. Elizabeth Yano, Dr. David Atkins, Dr. Sally Haskell, Dr. Susan Frayne, and Dr. Amanda Borsky.
On day two of the conference, the organizers held a panel discussion on the future direction of research for Women Veterans. The panel was moderated by Dr. Alison Hamilton, another leader of the VA Women’s Health Research Network. Panel participants were Maureen Elias, VA deputy chief of staff, Lourdes Tiglao, executive director, VA Center for Women Veterans, Zaneta Adams, VA deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs, Joy Ilem, national legislative director, Disabled American Veterans, and Kayla Williams, senior policy researcher, RAND Corporation Washington.
The panel members discussed a series of questions that covered future directions for women’s health research, identifying top priorities and finding the best ways to communicate research results. Recurring themes were transitioning out of the military into the community, caregiving, economic security, sexual trauma and harassment, toxic exposures, and mental health.
More than 60 Women's Health Researchers and leaders from other federal agencies attended the 2023 Women's Health Research Conference.
The speakers agreed that the most powerful way to communicate the results of VA research is to use plain language interspersed with pictures, charts, and real-life illustrations. “Data makes your communication credible, but stories make it memorable,” noted Elias.
The panel also stressed the importance of collaboration. “I think there are some real opportunities to enter into collaborations with DOD to understand the life cycle of Women Veterans,” said Williams. “We should ask, ‘What is on the horizon for today’s women service members as they go through their military careers? Can we collaborate with different agencies to ensure a smoother transition between systems of care?’”
There are more than two million Women Veterans living in the U.S. today. As a group, they are younger than male Veterans, 41% are women of color, and the majority live in urban areas. One in three Women Veterans receive their primary care in a women’s health clinic, according to the VA Office of Women’s Health. In fiscal year 2022, VA had nearly 3,800 women’s health-primary care providers and 210 gynecologists.
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