MINNEAPOLIS — Lawmakers, veterans, and healthcare providers donned hardhats and planted shiny shovels into a mound of dirt at the VA Medical Center Friday to mark a new era of enhanced healthcare options for women veterans.
The occasion was a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Minneapolis VA's women's clinic, which is set to open in 2026.
"We understand the needs of female veterans are diverse, and we are prepared to meet those needs with tailored healthcare plan and wholistic support systems," Dr. Alisa Duran, the women's health director at the Minneapolis VA, told the crowd that gathered at the construction site.
"We want our female veterans to know they are not alone," she said. "They are part of a network that values and supports them. We will offer programs that encourage camaraderie and mutual support, recognizing the strength that comes from shared experiences and collective resilience."
The Minneapolis VA opened a breast cancer clinic in 1985, and established the Women Veterans Comprehensive Health Center in 1993, according to Dr. Duran. But this clinic will consolidate all the women's healthcare services into one location with its own entrance.
"I think it's great! I'm actually a patient of the women's clinic," Alex Fleming, a US Air Force veteran who works with veterans in Ramsey County, told KARE.
She said having a separate entrance and parking area is significant.
"It will be nice to have our own entrance because there are so many females that have suffered trauma, who won't feel comfortable walking into the main VA hospital around a crowd of people, or even men in general," Fleming said. "This will be a nice way for them to feel more safe and secure."
US Army veteran Kristy Janigo, who works with veterans in Hennepin County, said the VA is recognizing that the armed forces have become increasingly diverse in recent decades.
"It was a very emotional day. I'm not gonna lie, there might have been something in my eye a little bit earlier," Janigo told KARE. "But it does feel very validating to see women veterans recognized in their own right here, alongside their male counterparts who have been serving for years."
Pat Kelly, the US Navy veteran who heads the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, cited a Pew Research study showing 17% of all veterans are female now, compared to just 4% in 1975. He said of the 105,000 veterans who received care in the Minneapolis VA system last year, 9,000 were women.
"We have been planning this building so long and many of our women veteran advocates didn’t really believe we were going to do this, so we thought we better break ground and let them see we’re going to do this, in fact!" Kelly told the crowd.
"We hope this very visible sign of supporting women veterans will inspire even more veterans to seek care through the VA," Kelly said.
Kelly noted that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave the Minneapolis VA five stars out of five. The VA Medical Center was one of only nine hospitals in Minnesota to get a five-star rating from CMS.
That quality rating is one of the reasons Janet Lorenzo, a US Navy veteran who works with veterans through the American Legion state organization, recommends the VA to her fellow female vets.
"I will tell them if you want quality care, come here. If you want to see your sisters in arms, come here. If you want to see the organizations growing to support woman veterans, come here. If you want to be an advocate for women veterans, come here!"
Sen. Amy Klobuchar recalled the days when her office took calls from women who were encountering delays getting services.
"Women veterans are the fastest growing group of veterans across the United States, and for years, I think back, over a decade ago, they would tell me they'd go to a clinic whether they need a Pap smear, a mammogram, it was a huge problem," Klobuchar remarked. "There wasn’t a waiting line when they signed up to serve, and there shouldn’t be a waiting line when they need health care in the United States of America."
She noted that both of Minnesota's US senators are women. And US Rep. Betty McCollum of Saint Paul, is the highest-ranking Democrat on Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which comes in handy for getting new facilities and initiatives funded.
Rep. McCollum, in her address at the ceremony, noted that recognition of the role of women in the nation's defense often comes very late. She gave the example of the Hello Girls, who operated phones near the front lines in 1917 during World War I. They weren't recognized as veterans until 1977.
"Our military is nearly, as of today, 20% women and increasing," McCollum told the audience. "There are nearly 400,000 women serving, between active duty, the Reserves and the National Guard."
By the time the clinic opens in 2026, it will be named after a woman veteran. The VA is asking for suggestions. You may click on this link to help name the VA women's clinic.
"I love that you are engaging the community in choosing a woman veteran to name this clinic after," Sen. Smith told the crowd. "This is going to be an important way to help people understand the remarkable contribution of women veterans, even as we demonstrate our respect for you with this building and what will happen inside of it."
The nomination period runs through October. A selection committee will narrow the list down to a group of finalists, with the final decision being made by VA Secretary Denis McDonough.
The winner will be someone who has a connection to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Her name will be revealed at the ribbon cutting ceremony in 2026.