She Wears the Boots: A Podcast for Women Veterans

In this episode we hear from Sophia Hill-Smith, the lead for the Maternity Care Coordination Program at the Veterans Health Administration. She discusses maternity care resources and services provided by the VA, including care coordination, lactation support, and postpartum follow-up.

In this episode you will hear about contraception from a VA Women's Health Primary Care Provider, Dr. Dana Glenn. She explains the types of contraception options available to Veterans at VA, benefits and common side effects of birth control, and how to get more information about access and availability at your VA.

Dr. Susan Raffa, the VA’s national program director for weight management, talks about what Veterans can expect and the benefits of participating in the MOVE! program. Veterans can also learn in this episode how to get connected to MOVE! at your local VA. Please check out these links to resources discussed by Dr. Raffa in this episode. MOVE! www.move.va.gov Access the MOVE! Veteran Workbook https://www.move.va.gov/MOVE/vetworkbook.asp Download the MOVE! Coach app https://www.move.va.gov/MOVE/MoveCoach.asp

Sean Clark, the Director of the Veterans Justice Programs in the Veterans Health Administration, talks about programs available to justice involved Veterans. He also discusses the pathway to access these programs and what a Veteran can expect if they engage in these programs. For more information please visit the website for the Veterans Justice Outreach Program at https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp.

In this episode we talk to Marine Corps Veteran and certified lead peer specialist, Ms. Sonya Ebhotemen about the role of the peer specialist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). She also discusses peer support services that are designed specifically for women Veterans and the benefits to working with VHA peer specialists.

Dr. Lynette Adams, with the VHA Office of Women’s Health, talks about how traumatic life experiences can affect health and well-being. She also discusses how the VA supports Veterans who have experienced trauma and what to do if you are concerned that a past history of trauma may be impacting your health. If you are looking for more information about the types of trauma discussed in this episode, please consider these resources. Resources from the VHA PTSDMilitary Sexual TraumaIntimate Partner ViolenceRacial TraumaAssault and Harassment Resources from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Adverse Childhood Experiences

Drs. Marissa Maier and Melissa Shaughnessy talk about the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, and why Veterans should consider getting vaccinated. They also bust some common myths about the HPV vaccine. We encourage Veterans to talk to their healthcare teams about vaccination. For more information on HPV and the vaccine, check out this video on The HPV Vaccine or read more in this brochure.

Dr. Natalie Peterson, program coordinator with the VHA National Intimate Partner Violence Program defines intimate partner violence and discusses resources for Veterans who may be experiencing or using intimate partner violence in their relationships. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone who needs assistance. They have several ways to contact a responder including calling, texting or chatting. Their number is 1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-799-7233 or you can explore the website at www.thehotline.org. You can also contact your local Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator at this site.

In 2023, VA is celebrating 100 years of providing health care for women Veterans. To recognize this historical benchmark, we hear from two Veterans who share their early experiences with VA health care and how they have seen VA change over the last several decades.

Dr. Sally Haskell, the Acting Chief Officer of Women’s Health with the Veterans Health Administration reviews important information on breast cancer screening and how toxic exposure in the military as well as personal and family history may indicate a need for a mammogram earlier than the age of 40.

Dr. Chelsea Cosby Morgan, with the VA Office of Women’s Health talks about the concept of Health Equity and how the VA supports Veterans using a team based approach to meet the individual needs of every Veteran.

Dr. Lexi Matza with the VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program discusses the importance of Veterans talking with their health care team about sexual orientation and gender identity in order to receive treatment that is tailored to their individual needs. Dr. Matza also reviews questions that may be asked of all Veterans at healthcare appointments. Visit the LGBTQ+ website at https://www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT for more information.

In this episode, we change gears to highlight an example of how women who served contribute to the military and the VHA. We were honored to interview Major Katie Lunning who retells her experiences while medically evacuating those that were seriously injured from Afghanistan in August of 2021. Her Critical Care Air Transport Team was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flights out of Afghanistan. Ms. Lunning discusses how experiences as a VHA ICU nurse at the Central Iowa VA prepared her for her service as a member of the Critical Care Air Transport Team. She also discusses how deployments impacted her life and suggestions for how to cope with transitions from deployment and service to home. Please use discretion before listening to this episode – it contains depictions of violence that some may find upsetting. Please consider calling the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and then Press 1 if you wish to connect to someone at the VA who is ready to listen and help. You can also chat online or text 838255 to be connected to a VA responder even if you are not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.

In this episode we hear from Alison Whitehead, the Program Lead for Integrative Health with the VHA Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation. Ms. Whitehead describes Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches offered by the VHA as a part of the Whole Health System, how to access these services, and why Veterans and particularly women Veterans might find these approaches appealing. For more information on CIH in the VHA (including a link to the research available) please visit Complementary and Integrative Health - Whole Health (va.gov). For information on Whole Health more generally, including information on the Circle of Health and the Personal Health Inventory, please visit Whole Health Basics - Whole Health (va.gov). If you are interested in trying out some complementary and integrative health approaches for self-care visit #LiveWholeHealth - VA News.

In this episode we hear from VHA historian Katie Rories and VA archivist Robyn Rogers about the evolution of Women’s History Month at the VA. For more information, please check out the following resources referenced in the episode! Visit the VA History Office or listen to stories from women Veterans in their podcast Reflections from the Front. Learn more about the important milestones and those responsible for them over the last 100 years of VA providing health care for women Veterans at https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/history.

Dr. Karen Goldstein, a VA women’s health primary care provider and researcher, describes cardiovascular disease, risk factors, and what the VA offers to support women who may be at risk for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US and we encourage women to ask their primary care provider about their personal risk and what woman-specific risks they might have. To access instructions on how to use the Healtheliving Assessment referenced by Dr. Goldstein in this episode, click here. For more information about Heart Health, see: https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/topics/heart-health.asp.

Dr Haley Moss discusses types of gynecologic cancers, signs and symptoms, and what to do if you are concerned about risk or personal history. Dr. Moss also shares what to expect after a diagnosis and encourages listeners to share their VA experiences with the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence by contacting them at bgsoe@va.gov. For more information on gynecologic cancer, visit: PAP Test and Gynecologic Cancer - Women Veterans Health Care (va.gov)

In this very special episode, the Secretary of the VA, Mr. Denis McDonough, talks to the VHA Chief Officer of Women’s Health, Dr. Patricia Hayes about his experiences leading the VA, what he has learned from women Veterans about their experiences with the VA, and the VA’s commitment to serving women Veterans. For more information, please visit: https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/building-a-culture-of-respect.asp and https://www.va.gov/health/harassment-free/.

Dr. Jessica Keith and Dr. Amy Street discuss Military Sexual Trauma (MST) including definitions, impacts, and resources for those who have experienced it. The Beyond MST mobile app is highlighted as a specific resource for MST survivors. For general information on Military Sexual Trauma, visit Military Sexual Trauma - Women Veterans Health Care (va.gov) and www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mst. Closed Caption Transcript is available at: https://www.sharedfedtraining.org/Podcasts/SWTB_MST.pdf ===============================

Dr. Amanda Johnson discusses the status of reproductive health services offered at the VA, including recent changes to regulations that now allow Veterans to receive abortion services. These services expand pregnancy counseling to now include abortion counseling, and in certain circumstances, access to abortions. For more information, please visit the Reproductive Health page on the VHA Women’s Health website at https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/topics/reproductive-health.asp