Our women veterans are an important part of the veteran population, and the UK Government has set an optimistic target of 30% of all in-service personnel being women by 2030, so this population will continue to expand. This research will offer strategic insights into musculoskeletal health outcomes that can inform policy and guide the development of support services for this group on leaving military service. It aims to identify areas of need within this population and determine where services can be directed to support their unique circumstances post-service.
Dr Alethea McHardy is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), based at the Regional Rehabilitation Unit for Scotland. She has worked for the MoD for over 10 years alongside her work in elite sport, examining for the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and has taught on the BASEM Foundation Skills course for 12 years.
In 2024, she commenced a PhD investigating health outcomes in ex-servicewomen (musculoskeletal, reproductive, breast, and ovarian cancer). She is passionate about shaping policy through evidence-based research and sits on the UK Armed Forces and Veterans Cross-Party Working Group embedded within the Scottish Government. In February 2025, she was awarded a prestigious PhD Fellowship by the Colt Foundation. She will be presenting following her talk at the Canadian Institute for Military Veterans Health Research Forum in Ottawa, Canada, in October 2025.
