Moving Women Veterans' Health Research Forward: a Special Supplement

Abstract: Women’s increased rate of participation in the US military is reshaping the Veteran population. With the growing number of women Veterans, it is imperative to understand the unique facets of military women’s and women Veterans’ health and health care experiences to ensure that they receive the highest-quality patient-centered care throughout the life course. This special issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM), sponsored by VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Service and the VA Women’s Health Research Network, highlights innovations and new findings related to women Veterans’ health and health care, including the diverse needs and experiences of women Veterans and active-duty and Reserve/National Guard servicewomen. We received an extraordinary number of submissions, reflecting the richness and depth of the field. After careful review and reflection, we accepted papers clustered around the five themes described below.