‘This clinic is for you’: Minneapolis VA opens new women’s clinic

The Minneapolis VA Medical Center celebrated the completion of its new women’s clinic on Friday, a facility that leaders hope will encourage more female veterans to seek healthcare in the system. The ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday featured several notable guests including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Reps. Kelly Morrison and Brad Finstad and, most importantly, a legion of women veterans. Currently, 10,000 of the 110,000 veterans the local VA system serves are women, but Patrick Kelly, director of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, said that is not enough. He hopes the standalone clinic, which he called “long awaited” and “long overdue,” will be a “very visible sign” that they are prepared and want to take care of their female veterans. After a four-year design phase, construction contracts were awarded in June 2024 and a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024 marked the start of construction. The $17 million clinic will officially open on Aug. 3. Women’s health Women veterans who receive healthcare at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center have consistently expressed the need for a women’s-centered clinic for both specialized care and privacy reasons, Interim Director Dr. Erin Krebs said. A U.S. Navy Nurse Corps veteran listens to speakers during a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Minneapolis VA Medical Center Women’s Clinic. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) “I think this is a desire that so many women veterans have had coming into a numerically male dominated environment,” Krebs said. “To just have a place that’s built for them.” The clinic will intentionally staff providers who are expert in primary care of women’s health. This includes preventive care, such as pap smears, mammograms, contraception, menopause management and other gynecological care, as well as general health care. The clinic will be “a one stop shop for women who choose to come,” Krebs said. ‘Shouldn’t be a waiting line’ “When these women signed up to serve, there wasn’t a waiting line. They wanted them in the service,” Klobuchar said in her address to the crowd. “And when they’re here now, there shouldn’t be a waiting line when they need help and specialized care.” A shout-out from Klobuchar about the importance of menopause research and targeted care landed especially well with the female veteran crowd. Members of the Blue Star Mothers of America listen to speakers during a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Minneapolis VA Medical Center Women’s Clinic on Friday, July 24, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) The Minneapolis VA Medical Center was one of the first in the country to have a women’s clinic within its walls more than 30 years ago. It has moved locations since that time, at one point sharing a waiting room with the general healthcare clinic. The new clinic, which occupies more than 13,000 square feet within the Minneapolis VA Medical Center campus, will have its own exterior entrance, an important factor that will give women seeking care more privacy. This matters because female veterans can face unique gender challenges. While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs names women as the fastest growing group of veterans , one in three female veterans continue to report military sexual trauma , according to the VA. “This is to all those women who have served in the military in the past, who maybe are not sure they belong here,” Krebs said. ”This clinic is for you, and we would love to have you check out the VA and come see what we have to offer. I think you’ll be surprised.” Related Articles The long-leaning University Club flagpole is standing tall. Here’s who fixed it, and why. Marine on St. Croix council member faces calls to resign, admits to taking city’s POW/MIA flag Marine on St. Croix council member could face theft charge for removing POW/MIA flag Forest Lake plans day and flyover to honor centenarian, WWII vet on Fourth of July Here’s a listing of Memorial Day events in the Twin Cities this weekend