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Honoring Women Veterans: Jacksonville Appreciation Event

Women Veterans connecting with one another and exploring the various resources available to them.
Women Veterans connecting with one another and exploring the various resources available to them.

By Katie Butler, Public Affairs Specialist

The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System’s Women Veterans Program recently organized an appreciation event in honor of National Women Veterans Day at the Jacksonville North Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. attracting over 150 women Veterans.

This event celebrated Women Veterans and their invaluable contributions to our nation. Women Veterans from across North Florida and South Georgia gathered to honor their achievements and share their inspiring stories. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about the various options and resources available to them at the VA. 

To kick off the event multiple leaders from the NF/SGVHS spoke and welcomed the women Veterans. Among them, Dr. Shabnam Showell, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff delivered an inspiring speech, “Every single Veteran deserves timely access to word-class health care, they’ve earned these benefits, it’s a right that they deserve. It’s our mission and our pleasure to provide those for Veterans. We will never settle for anything less at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System”

“We made the pioneering decision to ensure that every single primary care provider becomes a designated women’s health provider, every primary care provider undergoes specialized training to enhance their ability to deliver care tailored specifically for women Veterans. This additional training provides insights into the unique challenges and experiences that women Veterans encounter, distinguishing them from non-Veteran women. We strive to ensure that women Veterans can see any primary care provider at any location in our health care system”

Two women Veterans who attended the event expressed their enthusiasm for being there, sharing that they make it a point to come every year. 

“You get good information from here, I come every year, because something changes with the VA every single year…now they are offering this and this,” said Navy Veteran Jacqui Rivera, who has been receiving health care from NF/SGVHS since 1997. 

Desirée Garner, a Navy Veteran and an attendee of the event proudly served for an impressive 20 years and has been receiving healthcare from NF/SGVHS for the past 6 years. 

When asked if this was her first time attending an event like this, she enthusiastically replied, “I come every year! After I retired in 2019, I participated in a program with the NF/SG Women Veterans Program, and I’ve been involved ever since.” 

“Women’s needs are different from men’s needs so it’s a great time to put out the different resources that are more accurate and tailored to women, that’s why I enjoy coming here,” said Garner.

The Women Veterans Appreciation Event was a perfect day of recognition, connection, and empowerment, highlighting the significant role that women have played in the military and their ongoing impact in our communities.