Ventura VA Papathon: Empowering Women Veterans through Cervical Cancer Screenings and Resources
By Lauren Bolanos, Office of Communications
No one looks forward to a Pap smear. Discomfort, vulnerability, and busy schedules often push these essential screenings to the bottom of the list. But cervical cancer screenings save lives, and the Ventura VA Women’s Health team is making it easier for women Veterans to prioritize their health.
On January 14, the Women’s Health team at the Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic in Ventura hosted a Papathon for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. This high-efficiency outreach event is designed to provide cervical cancer screenings in a supportive, all-female environment. The goal is to make preventive care accessible, comfortable, and empowering.
What is a Papathon?
A Papathon is a streamlined event where specialized providers perform Pap smears at 15-minute intervals, maximizing access for Veterans who may struggle to fit appointments into their schedules. At Ventura, 19 women Veterans were screened in one morning.
“It’s not the most comfortable appointment, but it’s quick, and it gives you peace of mind,” said Bernadine Bustamante, Women’s Health Registered Nurse. “If something abnormal is found, you get treatment right away. That’s why these screenings are so important.”
Creating a Comfortable Space
According to the VA’s Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, a VA survey found that nearly 60% of women Veterans experienced sexual assault, and those with assault histories were more than twice as likely to report high anxiety, distress, and discomfort with gynecologic exams and twice as likely to report delaying a needed exam because of distress.
The Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic addressed this by creating an all-female environment, a separate entrance, and offering privacy and trauma-informed care.
“It’s always been very pleasant,” said Paula Gotliboswki, a Navy Veteran who participated in the Papathon. “From the moment you walk in, everyone makes you feel comfortable. You can talk openly, and there’s so much helpful information available.”
Connecting Women Veterans to Resources
The clinic also provided a resource table and gift bags filled with hygiene items, awareness bracelets, and educational materials on women’s health, mental health, and VA programs like MOVE! and maternity care coordination.
“We want Veterans to know these services are here for them,” Bustamante said. “Once they come in for a Pap smear, they discover all the other resources available.”
If you’re a woman Veteran, don’t wait. Schedule your cervical cancer screening today. Speak with your provider about a cervical cancer screening or call the VA Greater Los Angeles Women’s Health Clinical Navigators at 818-891-7711 ext. 32697 or ext. 33083.