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t m c » p u l s e | n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 35 Women's Health Center—more than double the size of the former women's clinic on site. Completed in January, the center is designed to be sensitive to the population it serves. Within a massive complex that mostly caters to male patients, the Women's Health Center provides a safe, intimate space for women. "Predominantly, the VA is a man's world," El-Serag said, "but women veterans have unique needs that are distinct from their male counterparts. For example, 23 percent of female veterans report that they experienced sexual trauma in the military. A good percentage of them will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of that." (continued) A New Way Into the VA The Women's Health Center caters to the specific needs of a minority community H ouston is home to 14,000 women veterans, a number that has doubled in just 10 years. "Texas, overall, has the largest number of female veterans in the nation, but the majority do not seek care at the VA," said Rola El-Serag, M.D., medical director of the Women Veterans Health Program at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston. "Our goal is to improve that number. Women need to get the message that the VA is on the ball, that we are attending to their needs and changing the culture." A new designated space for women on Houston's sprawling, 118-acre VA campus is evidence of this cultural shift. Last summer, the VA opened an 8,200-square-foot B y M a g g i e G a l e h o u s e The Women's Health Center at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston offers a private entrance for patients. Having a place with a private entrance makes these women feel important and reduces their stress. — ROLA EL-SERAG, M.D. Medical director of the Women Veterans Health Program at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston