Women are the fastest growing group among U.S. veterans. Here’s how a Nashville dental clinic served them this week.

Emily McCamy didn’t really plan to end up in a dental clinic back home in Nashville.  

She and her family were only in town for a few days. They flew in from the naval station at Guantanamo Bay on a type of medical leave so Emily’s daughter could see a pediatric specialist.  

“So while we were back, we were driving past South College,” McCamy said. “And (my daughter) says, ‘Mom, what’s South College?’ I said, ‘Well, let’s look it up. Let’s see what they specialize in.’ And I saw the veterans Day event and went, ‘Hey, wait a minute.’”

The commuter school is in a high-rise building in southeast Nashville, near the airport. It’s one of the college’s nine locations. Programs run the gamut from professional certificate to doctoral degrees, and there are several health-industry concentrations.

That includes a dental program, which offers a full-service clinic. It held a Veterans Day event this week.

McCamy qualified for South College’s dental clinic as a veteran, but she hasn’t held the title for long. She just retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve in April, and she transitioned into a civilian role at the hospital at Guantanamo.  

She’s far from the only female veteran getting her gums checked and X rays done. One patient gets compliments on her cool pink hair. A few bring in their kids. 

The United States has more female veterans than ever, and Tennessee is no exception. Veterans Affairs data estimates the state will be home to nearly 60,000 female veterans by 2045. 

MCCamy says it’s not surprising to hear that women are the fastest growing group among America’s veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  

The agency states women’s participation in VA health services is on the rise, but surveys find that women often don’t know how many services are available to them. 

The federal agency released a report this year on barriers to care for female veterans. Among other things, it found about 50 percent of patients needed mental health services, and recommended making them more accessible. It also found female veterans were more likely than other groups to miss doctors’ appointments because they couldn’t find childcare. 

The Tennessee Valley Veterans Affairs system has a comprehensive women’s health program, which includes gynecology services, scans like mammograms and mental health programs.