Here’s the Tea on Celebrating 100 Years of Veteran Women’s Care in VA

Tampa VA is celebrating 100 years of women Veterans’ health care in Veterans Health Administration all month long, with stories to tell, uniforms to display and oh, the tea.

The Women Veterans’ Program hosted a “High Tea” event Friday at the New Port Richey Community Outpatient Clinic. This was one of the five events the Women Veterans’ Program has planned for September’s recognition of the centennial of care.

Twenty-three women Veterans gathered on the first floor for comradery, a delicious lunch and discussion on health services offered at NPR Clinic. The location is especially convenient option for Pasco County Veterans since the March 2023 ribbon-cutting for the new-and-improved facility.

“With the old clinic it was smaller,” said Tammy Tenace, Women Veteran Education, Outreach and Research Coordinator. “They had to rig things up to offer mammograms.”

“With the new Clinic we were able to incorporate mammography into a dedicated space. We have a larger staff to accommodate more women at the new facility,” Tenace said.

Dr. Sonia Perez-Padilla, Deputy Medical Director for NPR Clinic, discussed clinic services with Veterans in attendance, and they had a chance to ask questions in detail about the amenities.

At the end of the conversation Veterans were presented with an ice-breaker question, which sparked lively conversations that made it hard to end the luncheon.

“They got to know each other with the question,” said Tenace. “There were women of all ages. Older, wheelchair-bound women really appreciate the opportunity to get together,” said Tenace.

The participants found a community of support and esprit de corps, and the good times won’t end, at least not until the end of September.

September 15, the Women Veterans’ Program had a Herstory event allowing women Veterans to share their accounts about service in uniform. Other planned “High Tea” events will be held at the Tampa Vet Center September 19, and September 29, at the Primary Care Annex.

(Photos courtesy of the Women Veterans’ Program.)