2026 May CCSS: Operation Ready Families: Strong Families, Strong Force

May 7, 2026

The Defense Health Agency (DHA), J-7, Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) Clinical Communities Speaker Series (CCSS) events are designed to address the professional practice gaps of our learners to improve the care that our health care professionals deliver. This continuing education (CE)/continuing medical education (CME) event is conducted to achieve results that reflect a change in skills, competence, and performance of the health care team, and patient outcomes. Collaboration occurs with the Department of Defense, several government agencies, and other civilian experts for recruitment of academic subject matter experts (SMEs), clinicians, and researchers to present on current promising, evidence-based research and best practices, thus enhancing the overall educational experience. Participants are expected to apply what they learned in providing patient care individually and collaboratively as a team towards improved patient outcomes.

This event will explore the evidence-based practices in the care of the pediatric patient through educational content created by military and civilian Subject Matter Experts specializing in bioethics, research, healthcare, and academia. Each session is designed to refine the quality of care, achieve the best outcomes, and improve population health in children and youth. Attending this continuing education opportunity will advance the practice, skills, and knowledge of the pediatric care provider in service to children and youth engaged in the military healthcare and education system.

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physician Assistants, Optometrists, Social Workers*, Audiologists*, Speech Language Pathologists*, Psychologists, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Registered Dieticians, Dietetic Technicians, Athletic Trainers, Case Managers, Certified Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Kinesiotherapists, and Healthcare Executives*. This activity is also approved for physicians who are board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics*.

Course summary

Course opens:

04/06/2026

Course expires:

05/21/2026

Event starts:

05/07/2026 - 7:45am EDT

Event ends:

05/07/2026 - 3:45pm EDT

Add to calendar:

May 2026 Clinical Communities Speaker Series (CCSS)
“Operation Ready Families: Strong Families, Strong Force”

Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 7:45am to 3:45pm EDT


Time (ET)	Title/Speaker
0745 – 0750	Welcome Remarks David Smith, M.D. Acting Director, Defense Health Agency
0750 – 0800	Moderator Dr. Gregory A. Leskin, Ph.D. Director, National Center for Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Military Veteran Families and Children UCLA-National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Los Angeles, Calif.
0800 – 0900	Session 01: Mental Health Strategies for Pediatric Providers Working with Military Children and Youth
0800 – 0900	Scott Cypers, PhD EDIS Supervisory Psychologist Educational and Developmental Intervention Services U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain	Identify key diagnostic features and clinical presentations of anxiety in children and adolescents. Apply a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate approach to assessing overall mental health in youth. Demonstrate the use of non-stigmatizing, person-centered language when discussing mental health with pediatric patients and families. Analyze evidence-based strategies and skill-building interventions for the treatment and management of anxiety in youth.
0900 – 0910	Break
0910 – 1010	*Session 02: Military Children in the School System*
0910 – 1010	Ruth D. Boadi, MSW, LCSW-C School-based Clinician Child and Family Mental Health Services Clinic Department of Mental Health Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center Fort Meade, Md.	Identify common mental health presentation patterns in military-connected children and youth, including internalizing symptom profiles and layered stress responses. Differentiate between behaviors linked to trauma, chronic stress, or situational factors versus primary neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD. Apply a context-first, symptom-focused approach to assessment and cross-system collaboration to support children, families, and school teams.
1010 – 1020	Break
1020 – 1120	Session 03: Shaping Tomorrow’s Force: Addressing Pediatric Obesity Today
1020 – 1120	Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kristan E. (Betsy) Madison, MD, MS, FAAP, DABOM, DipABLM Assistant Professor, Pediatrics Director of Pediatric Grand Rounds Uniform Services University Director of the Healthy Habits Child Obesity Clinic Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Md.	Describe current trends in pediatric and active-duty obesity and explain their implications for future military readiness. Identify gaps in early recognition and diagnosis of pediatric obesity, including delays highlighted in recent research and clinical practice. Apply evidence-based, family-centered counseling strategies—including lifestyle medicine principles—to improve nutrition and weight management in pediatric populations within military settings.
1120 – 1130	Break
1130 – 1230	*Session 04: Clinical Care Considerations for Military Children and Families: Unique Stressors and Developmental Impacts of a Parent’s Service*
1130 – 1230	Army Col. Daniel C. Hart, MD Command Psychiatrist U.S. Army Special Operations Command Fort Bragg, N.C. Ms. Faith Belt Soldier and Family Wellness Division Chief U.S. Army Special Operations Command Fort Bragg, N.C.	Describe how the sense of purpose in military service impacts the prioritization of family throughout the course of a career in the military Explain through a developmental lens how parental and military stressors can result in predictable trends in military children Define age and developmentally appropriate strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of a parents military service and harnessing the benefits for resilience
1230 – 1330	Break
1330 – 1430	*Session 05: The Intersection of Military Policies, Family Dynamics, and the Best Interest of the Child*
1330 – 1430	Navy Cmdr. Benjamin R. Blevins, MD Pediatrician Naval Medical Center San Diego San Diego, Calif.	Pending
1430 – 1440	Break
1440 – 1445	Administrative Remarks Alna Gopez, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB Training Specialist J-7 Education and Training, DHA
1445 – 1545	*Session 06: Sleep Under Fire: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Sleep Issues in Military Children*
1445 – 1545	Air Force, Lt. Col. Justyna T. Wadolowski, DO, MS Regional Director Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center – Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Kadena Air Base, Japan Air Force Capt. Adam S. Hodge, Capt, USAF, BSC, PhD Chief of Psychology Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center - PACAF Kadena Air Base, Japan	Identify common sleep issues and risk factors effecting children and adolescents, particularly in military families. Explain the developmental importance of sleep and consequences of sleep insufficiency across pediatric domains. Apply multidisciplinary strategies to improve pediatric sleep outcomes

Join the MS Teams room at:

https://dod.teams.microsoft.us/l/meetup-join/19%3adod%3ameeting_fdbff72ea33e40ab9a22117f2df8bb46%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%228903a443-af33-4ed4-acf5-ee613bcb2f59%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%229417ac16-7564-40a8-901b-4f24688f9a62%22%7d

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Opening Remarks Speaker(s)