New Women’s Clinic looking for the right name

“To enhance the recognition of Women Veterans the new Minneapolis VA Women’s Clinic will be named after a female Veteran who is a demonstrated leader, community member and serving citizen,” said Minneapolis VA Women's Health Medical Director Alisa Duran. 

Nomination submissions must include the Veteran nominee's military service information and written commentary demonstrating her connection to the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System’s Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and why the Veteran is deserving of this recognition.

Interested parties can submit an official nomination packet now through October 30, 2024. A selection committee will narrow the list down to a group of finalists based on aforementioned criteria and VA Secretary Denis McDonough will select the Veteran. Planners say the process will be complete in time for the clinic opening. 

The Women’s Clinic groundbreaking is anticipated to take place later this summer and the facility should be open in summer of 2026.

“Naming the new clinic after an extraordinary Woman Veteran acknowledges and promotes a culture of respect and dignity toward women who have proudly served alongside their male counterparts,” said Minneapolis VA Director Pat Kelly.

“To think they are going to build a women’s clinic, I’m just stunned,” said Jeri Longfellow, a Veteran who has been receiving care at the Minneapolis VA since 1989. Longfellow, a retired Army Colonel (Bvt.) has been an active voice for years serving on the facility’s consumer advisory panel and currently a member of the women’s clinic naming committee.

Millions of women have served in the U.S military since the American Revolution. Since then, women have volunteered and died during major wars and conflicts, including WWI, WWII, Vietnam War, and Post-911 conflicts. 

The nomination packet and more information is available online at www.va.gov/minneapolis-health-care/health-services/women-veteran-care/ 

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Interviews available upon request with Minneapolis VA Women's Health leaders.

About Minneapolis VA Health Care System

Minneapolis VA Health Care System provides over 100,000 Veterans with a full range of health services at 15 locations. Facilities include the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, 13 Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Albert Lea, Ely, Hibbing, Mankato, Maplewood, Ramsey, Rochester, Shakopee, and St. James, Minn.; and Chippewa Falls, Hayward, Rice Lake and Superior, Wis., and the Community Resource and Referral Center for Veterans experiencing homelessness in Minneapolis. 

We are an academic health system with state-of-the-art technology and home to four major research centers. We maintain over 90 active affiliations with health professions schools and have been working closely with the University of Minnesota since 1947. To learn more visit VA Minneapolis Health Care | Veterans Affairs. 

Melanie Nelson, Public Affairs Officer

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