2025 JUNE CCSS: Evidence-Based Approaches for Advancing Excellence in Primary Care

Clinical Communities Speaker Series
Join health experts as they highlight innovative strategies and uncover important issues affecting primary care for military and veteran populations.
Virtual event on Thursday, June 5, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET
Overview
The Clinical Communities Speaker Series aims to advance the skills, strategies, and competence of healthcare providers and teams across the military health system. Virtual presentations draw on military and civilian experts from academia, government, and clinical care settings to address professional practice gaps among a wide range of healthcare professions. By focusing on clinical best practices, interprofessional learning, and military readiness, participants are empowered to optimize health outcomes for uniformed service members and their families through better individual and collaborative care practices.
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Session Agenda
- S01: Slimming Down the Options: A Prescriber’s Guide to Anti-Obesity Medications
- S02: Multidrug-Resistant Organisms – Threats and Prevention Strategies
- S03: Biosimilar and Interchangeable Biological Products: An Overview of Scientific Concepts and Practical Resources
- S04: Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: From Hype to Practical Impact
- S05: Practical Application of the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Tinnitus in Daily Practice
- S06: Ethical Considerations for Multi-Cancer Early Detection Testing
Target Audience
This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physician Associates/Physician Assistants, Optometrists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Registered Dieticians, Dietetic Technicians, Athletic Trainers, Case Managers, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Kinesiotherapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and other health care professionals who support/care for U.S. active-duty service members, reservists, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, National Guardsmen, military veterans, and their families.
Evidence-Based Approaches for Advancing Excellence in Primary Care
Thursday, June 5, from 08:00 AM ET to 04:00 PM ET on Microsoft Teams
Time (ET) | Moderator Navy Cmdr. Karima Ayesh, D.M.D. | |
0800 – 0805 | Welcome Remarks Lolita T. O’Donnell, Ph.D., MSN, RN | |
0805 – 0815 | Opening Remarks Edna Garcia-Kelley, MPH, BSN, RN | |
0815 – 0915 | Session 01: Slimming Down the Options: A Prescriber’s Guide to Antiobesity Medications | |
Brittany L. Howard, PA-C |
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0915 – 0925 | Break | |
0925 – 1025 | Session 02: Multidrug-Resistant Organisms- Threats and Prevention Strategies | |
Army Maj. Benjamin Custer, MD, MPH&TM |
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1025 – 1035 | Break | |
1035 – 1135 | ||
Sabiha Khan, MD
Sarah Ikenberry, MA |
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1135 – 1145 | Break | |
1145 – 1245 | Session 04: Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: From Hype to Practical Impact | |
Steven Lin, MD |
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1245 – 1345 | One-hour Break | |
1345 – 1445 | ||
LaGuinn P. Sherlock, Au.D., CCC-A
Sarah Theodoroff, Ph.D., CCC-A |
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1445 – 1455 | Break | |
1455 – 1500 | Administrative Remarks Navy Capt. Harlan Dorey, MD, FAAP | |
1500 – 1600 | Session 06: Ethical Considerations for Multi-Cancer Early Detection Testing | |
Eric Blackstone, Ph.D. |
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Featured Faculty
Lolita T. O’Donnell, Ph.D., MSN, R.N.
Chief of the Executive Skills, Continuing Education & Libraries (EXCEL) Division
Director of the Continuing Education Program Office
J-7, DHA
Navy Cmdr. Karima Ayesh, D.M.D.
Director for Dental Services
Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command
Sigonella, Italy
Edna Garcia-Kelley, MPH, BSN, RN
Nurse Consultant
Health Readiness Support Division/Radiation Safety
Defense Public Health
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, Va.
Navy Capt. Harlan Dorey, MD, FAAP
Officer in Charge, Navy Medicine Readiness Training Unit Bangor
Director of Branch Clinic, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton
Chair, DHA Primary Care Clinical Community
Bangor, Maine
Presenting Faculty
Brittany L. Howard, PA-C
Program Director
Bariatric and Metabolic Surgical Services
Womack Army Medical Center
Fort Liberty, N.C.
Army Maj. Benjamin Custer, MD, MPH&TM
Chair, Infection Prevention and Control
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Md.
Sabiha Khan, MD
Medical Officer
Office of Therapeutic Biologics and Biosimilars
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring, Md.
Sarah Ikenberry, MA
Associate Director for Stakeholder Outreach and Education
Office of Therapeutic Biologic and Biosimilars
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring, Md.
Steven Lin, MD
Clinical Professor
Chief, General Primary Care
Director, Stanford Healthcare AI Applied Research Team
Division of Primary Care and Population Health
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, Calif.
LaGuinn P. Sherlock, Au.D., CCC-A
Research Audiologist
Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen
Audiology and Speech Pathology Center
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.
Sarah Theodoroff, Ph.D., CCC-A
Interim Associate Director
VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research
Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Ore.
Eric Blackstone, Ph.D.
Bioethics Research Fellow
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Mass.
Disclosures:
Army Major Benjamin Custer, MD, MPH&TM has a financial relationship (Stock) with Beam Therapeutics; financial relationship (Stock) with Ionis Pharmaceuticals; financial relationship (Stock) with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; financial relationship (Stock) with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals; financial relationship (Stock) with GSK; financial relationship (Stock) with Prime Medicine Inc; financial relationship (Stock) with Armata Pharmaceuticals; financial relationship (Stock) with CVS Health; financial relationship (Stock) with Pfizer Inc; financial relationship (Stock) with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; financial relationship (Stock) with CRISR Therapeutics; financial relationship (Stock) with Moderna Inc; financial relationship (Stock) with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Steven Lin, MD has a financial relationship (Independent contractor) with Codex Health; financial relationship (Grant Or Contract) with Omada Health; financial relationship (Grant Or Contract) with Google; financial relationship (Independent contractor) with Gaia Health.
LaGuinn Sherlock, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-TM has a financial relationship (Independent contractor) with American Tinnitus Association.
Sarah Theodoroff, Ph.D., CCC-A has a financial relationship (Other) with American Tinnitus Association and Hyperacusis Research; financial relationship (Independent contractor) with Ovid Therapeutics, Inc.
DHA J-7 staff, planning committee members, faculty, and content reviewers have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Lolita T. O'Donnell, Ph.D., MSN, RN
Edna Garcia-Kelley, MPH, BSN, RN
Navy Commander Karima Ayesh, D.M.D.
Eric Blackstone, Ph.D.
Army Major Benjamin Custer, MD, MPH&TM
Brittany Howard, PA-C, ASMBS
Sarah Ikenberry, MA
Sabiha Khan, MD
Steven Lin, MD
LaGuinn Sherlock, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-TM
Sarah Theodoroff, Ph.D., CCC-A
Navy Captain Harlan Dorey, MD, FAAP
Available Credit
- Physician Associates/Physician Assistants (AAPA)DHA J-7 CEPO has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for a maximum of 6 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
- ACCME Non-Physician CME CreditDHA J-7 CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers will be provided a certificate of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers may receive a maximum of 6.00 hours for completing this Internet Live Course activity.
- ACPE PharmacistNo valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA J-7 CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacists. This knowledge-based activity will provide a maximum of 6.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.
- ACPE Pharmacy TechnicianNo valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA J-7 CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacy Technicians. This knowledge-based activity will provide a maximum of 6.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.
- Dentists and Allied Dental Staff (ADA CERP)
DHA, J-7, CEPO is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education (CDE). ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP. DHA, J-7, CEPO designates this activity for a maximum of 6.00 continuing education credits.
- Physicians (ACCME)
DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this Internet Live Course for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- Nurses (ANCC)The DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/ Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Internet Live Course for a maximum of 6.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- Occupational Therapists (AOTA)
The DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider of professional development (PD). This distance learning-interactive offers a maximum of 0.6 CEUs, intermediate, OT service delivery, professional issues, and/or foundational knowledge. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.
- Psychologists (APA)Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The DHA, J7, CEPO maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this activity for a maximum of 2 CE credits. The instructional level of this activity is intermediate. There is no cost to participate.
- Optometrists (ARBO/COPE)
This activity has been approved by ARBO/COPE. The DHA, J-7, CEPO designates this activity for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- ASHA Audiologists and Speech-Language PathologistsIntroductory Level 0.1 ASHA CEUs. DHA, J-7, CEPO is approved by the Continuing Education board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology, and audiology. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.
- Social Workers (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA, J-7, CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive a maximum of 2 continuing education credits.
- Athletic Trainers (BOC)Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC)The Defense Health Agency, J-7, Continuing Education Program Office is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
- Registered Dietitians (CDR)
The Defense Health Agency, J-7, Continuing Education Program Office is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive a maximum of 6 Continuing Professional Education units (CPEUs) for completion of this activity/material.
- Kinesiotherapists (COPSKT)This continuing education activity has been accredited by The Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT) to include a maximum of 6 contact hours. DHA, J-7, CEPO accredits enterprise-wide continuing education activities for military and civilian health care professionals. These courses are critical to DHA’s goal of providing the best possible quality care to active duty service members, veterans, and their families.
- Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)
In support of improving patient care, the DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive a maximum of 6 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
- Case Managers (CCMC)
This program has been pre-approved by The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) to provide continuing education credit to CCM® board certified case managers. The course is approved for up to 6 CE contact hours.
Activity Code: UPDATE Approval Number: PENDING
To claim these CEs, log into your CCMC Dashboard at www.ccmcertification.org.
- Certificate of Attendance
Requirements: CE/CME certificates for a session are awarded to participants who fully complete the session, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Jun 19, 2025.
Accommodations: Closed captions are available through Microsoft Teams. For additional technical support, email [email protected].